polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

What is meant and perceived as polite in a given context, however, will depend on judgments of appropriateness and markedness.

POLITE definition: showing good manners toward others, as in behavior, speech, etc.; courteous; civil. See examples of polite used in a sentence.

Definition of polite adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the word polite, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

You can refer to people who consider themselves to be socially superior and to set standards of behaviour for everyone else as polite society or polite company.

POLITE meaning: 1 : having or showing good manners or respect for other people; 2 : socially correct or proper