gentility Definition
- 1good manners and refinement in conduct or taste
- 2the condition of belonging to the gentry or upper class
Using gentility: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "gentility" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The family's gentility was evident in their impeccable manners and elegant attire.
Example
She exuded an air of gentility that made her stand out in any crowd.
Example
The novel explores the clash between gentility and poverty in Victorian England.
gentility Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for gentility
Antonyms for gentility
Idioms Using gentility
Example
Despite his humble origins, he possessed a gentility of the soul that endeared him to all who knew him.
the highest level of refinement and elegance, typically associated with the aristocracy
Example
The ballroom was filled with high gentility, as the cream of society mingled and danced.
the pretense of having good manners or belonging to the upper class, often used to conceal one's humble origins or lack of breeding
Example
Her affected accent and snobbish behavior betrayed her false gentility.
Phrases with gentility
old-world gentility
a refined and elegant way of living that is reminiscent of a bygone era
Example
The hotel's decor and service evoke a sense of old-world gentility.
the attempt of newly rich people to adopt the manners and lifestyle of the upper class
Example
The mansion's ostentatious decor and the host's pretentiousness betrayed their new money gentility.
country gentility
the refinement and elegance associated with the rural gentry
Example
The estate's sprawling gardens and the manor's antique furnishings exuded an air of country gentility.
Origins of gentility
from Old French 'gentilite', meaning 'nobility of birth'
Summary: gentility in Brief
The term 'gentility' [jen-til-i-tee] refers to good manners and refinement in conduct or taste, as well as the condition of belonging to the gentry or upper class. It can be exemplified by phrases like 'old-world gentility,' 'new money gentility,' and 'country gentility.' 'Gentility' extends into idioms like 'gentility of the soul,' denoting a noble character, and 'false gentility,' referring to the pretense of good breeding.
