# courtesy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɜːtəsi/ · frequency rank #5,778

## Definitions
1. Polite behavior.
2. A polite gesture or remark, especially as opposed to an obligation or standard practice.
3. Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence.
4. Willingness or generosity in providing something needed.
5. A curtsey.
6. The life interest that the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.

## Etymology
From Middle English curteisie, curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie. Equivalent to courteous + -y (abstract noun suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **courts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/courtesy-vs-courts)
- **courtly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/courtesy-vs-courtly)
- **Courtney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/courtesy-vs-courtney)
- **Cortes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cortes-vs-courtesy)
- **courses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/courses-vs-courtesy)
- **courted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/courted-vs-courtesy)
- **countess** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/countess-vs-courtesy)
- **courtesan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/courtesan-vs-courtesy)
- **Courtenay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/courtenay-vs-courtesy)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ccourtesy`, `corutesy`, `couretsy`, `courrtesy`, `courtessy`, `courtesyy`, `courteys`, `courtsey`, `courttesy`, `coutresy`, `cuortesy`, `ocurtesy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/courtesy