Gentleman
What it means
A man whose conduct is notably courteous, honorable, and considerate.
Reach for it when praising a man's behavior when the gendered traditional term is welcome
He remained a gentleman throughout the difficult negotiation.
Words to choose between 5
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
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| formal |
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playful
gent
Fits when a brief informal label suits friendly conversation
Careful Gent can sound dated, affected, or merely identify a man.
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everyday
courteous man
Fits when polite consideration is the exact behavior being praised
Careful Courtesy alone does not establish the broader integrity associated with gentleman.
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warm
decent man
Fits when basic kindness and moral reliability matter most
Careful Decent is modest praise and lacks the cultivated manner of gentleman.
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formal
gentleperson
Fits when a gender-neutral counterpart is needed in inclusive writing
Careful Gentleperson is uncommon and may draw more attention to wording than conduct.
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formal
man of honor
Fits when integrity and principled conduct are central
Careful The phrase sounds solemn and says less about everyday courtesy.
Opposites 3
- cad
- boor
- ruffian
Common phrases 3
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perfect gentleman
The rival captain was a perfect gentleman after the final whistle.
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true gentleman
A true gentleman made room for every voice at the table.
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gentleman scholar
The archive remembers him as a gentleman scholar with generous habits.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Gentleman has historical class meanings and remains gendered. Courtesy or honorable person may fit more inclusive contexts.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated