What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Politeness vs Politesse - What's the difference?

politeness | politesse |

As nouns the difference between politeness and politesse

is that politeness is the quality of being polite while politesse is civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; or an instance of this.

politeness

English

(wikipedia politeness)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The quality of being polite.

    • Synonyms

    * (the act of being polite): affability, civility, courtliness, etiquette

    Antonyms

    * (the act of being polite): impoliteness, rudeness

    politesse

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; or an instance of this.
  • * 1978 , (Iris Murdoch), The Sea, The Sea , Vintage 1999, pp. 56-7:
    • The reference in his letter to ‘having a drink’ is of course just an empty politesse .
  • *2011 , Thomas Penn, Winter King , Penguin 2012, p. 7:
  • *:The soft politesse concealed a sharp observer, a gleaner of information, cool under pressure and used to having to think several steps ahead […].