noun
gentleman
JEHN-tuhl-muhn
noun
1
A polite, well-mannered, or honorable man.
"He held the door open like a true gentleman."
"She described her grandfather as a real gentleman."
2
(formal or polite) A man, used respectfully regardless of manners.
"The gentleman at the front desk will assist you."
3
Historically, a man of respectable birth or means who did not need to work for a living.
"In the novel, he lives as a gentleman on his family's estate."
How to Use Gentleman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA polite or well-bred man, or simply a formal way of referring to a man.
Common pairings
ladies and gentlemen
a perfect gentleman
gentleman farmer
Word Forms
gentlemen plural, Gentlemans plural
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Etymology
From Middle English gentilman, combining "gentle" (in its older sense of "well-born") with "man".