noun

gentleman

JEHN-tuhl-muhn

noun

A polite, well-mannered, or honorable man.

"He held the door open like a true gentleman."

"She described her grandfather as a real gentleman."

(formal or polite) A man, used respectfully regardless of manners.

"The gentleman at the front desk will assist you."

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 notes

In 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

gentlemen plural, Gentlemans plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

He held the door open like a true _____.

From Middle English gentilman, combining "gentle" (in its older sense of "well-born") with "man".

iceman Beeman fireman lineman baseman foreman caveman freeman Bateman Coleman spaceman nobleman