Gentleman
n.kind, thoughtfulwarm
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.
Choose between these
5- playful
gent
a brief informal label suits friendly conversation
not when Gent can sound dated, affected, or merely identify a man.
- everyday
courteous man
polite consideration is the exact behavior being praised
not when Courtesy alone does not establish the broader integrity associated with gentleman.
- warm
decent man
basic kindness and moral reliability matter most
not when Decent is modest praise and lacks the cultivated manner of gentleman.
- formal
gentleperson
a gender-neutral counterpart is needed in inclusive writing
not when Gentleperson is uncommon and may draw more attention to wording than conduct.
- formal
man of honor
integrity and principled conduct are central
not when The phrase sounds solemn and says less about everyday courtesy.
Said against
3- cad
- boor
- ruffian
It naturally appears in
3- perfect gentleman
The rival captain was a perfect gentleman after the final whistle.
- true gentleman
A true gentleman made room for every voice at the table.
- gentleman scholar
The archive remembers him as a gentleman scholar with generous habits.
Where this comes from
Gentleman has historical class meanings and remains gendered. Courtesy or honorable person may fit more inclusive contexts.
- Wiktionary, English noun sense 2: courteous or honorable man opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.