gentleman
noun
gen·tle·man ˈjen-tᵊl-mən 
ˈje-nᵊl-,
in rapid speech also ˈjen-tə-mən,
ˈje-nə-
often attributive
1
a
: a man of noble or gentle (see gentle entry 1 sense 4a) birth
b
: a man belonging to the landed gentry
c(1)
: a man who combines gentle (see gentle entry 1 sense 4a) birth or rank with chivalrous qualities
(2)
: a man whose conduct conforms to a high standard of propriety or correct behavior
d(1)
: a man of independent means who does not engage in any occupation or profession for gain
(2)
: a man who does not engage in a menial occupation or in manual labor for gain
2
: valet sense 1b —often used in the phrase gentleman's gentleman
3
: a man of any social class or condition —often used in a courteous reference
show this gentleman to a seat
or usually in the plural in address ladies and gentlemen
gentlemanlike
ˈjen-tᵊl-mən-ˌlīk
adjective ˈje-nᵊl-
gentlemanlikeness noun
Synonyms
- grandee
- lord
- milord
- nobleman
- peer
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
A true gentleman would never engage in such behavior. He's a gentleman by birth.
Recent Examples on the Web There was one gentleman, Smith said, who kept coming back to watch the rehearsals. 
Palak Jayswal, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 My patient was a gentleman of forty who for eight years has habitually taken opium. Fitz Hugh Ludlow, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Somebody like Corbin Bleu, who is such a gentleman and so fun to work with, and the press is clamoring to talk to Corbin about the show. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 27 July 2022 There was a gentleman frantically trying to open the emergency exit. Taylor Dolven, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2022 Malek was ever the gentleman in a complementary black suit, blue tie, and blue and white striped button-up. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 9 July 2022 Probably the most noted one is a gentleman known as Malofeyev. CBS News, 6 July 2022 One of my other favorite stories was about a gentleman whose wife had asked him to help her thaw a turkey using the water bath method. Megan Marples, CNN, 24 Nov. 2021 Decades after his father was framed for a theft, Assane Diop (Omar Sy) sets out to get revenge on the powerful family behind the injustice, using a book about gentleman thief Arsène Lupin as inspiration in the French series Lupin. Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 1 July 2022 See More
Palak Jayswal, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 My patient was a gentleman of forty who for eight years has habitually taken opium. Fitz Hugh Ludlow, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Somebody like Corbin Bleu, who is such a gentleman and so fun to work with, and the press is clamoring to talk to Corbin about the show. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 27 July 2022 There was a gentleman frantically trying to open the emergency exit. Taylor Dolven, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2022 Malek was ever the gentleman in a complementary black suit, blue tie, and blue and white striped button-up. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 9 July 2022 Probably the most noted one is a gentleman known as Malofeyev. CBS News, 6 July 2022 One of my other favorite stories was about a gentleman whose wife had asked him to help her thaw a turkey using the water bath method. Megan Marples, CNN, 24 Nov. 2021 Decades after his father was framed for a theft, Assane Diop (Omar Sy) sets out to get revenge on the powerful family behind the injustice, using a book about gentleman thief Arsène Lupin as inspiration in the French series Lupin. Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 1 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English gentilman
First Known Use
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing gentleman
Kids Definition
gentleman
noun
gen·tle·man ˈjen-tᵊl-mən
plural gentlemen
-mən
1
: a man with very good manners
2
: a man of any social position
Hint: This word is used especially in polite speech or when speaking to a group of men. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
3
: a man of high social status
He's a gentleman by birth.
gentlemen
noun
1
as in noblemen
a man of high birth or social position many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were gentlemen who were risking everything Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- noblemen
- lords
- knights
- grandees
- princes
- peers
- milords
- chevaliers
- cavaliers
- squires
- country gentlemen
- baronets
- esquires
- barons
- sheiks
- hidalgos
- sheikhs
- seigneurs
- masters
- viscounts
- dukes
- nabobs
- nawabs
- dons
- earls
- marquises
- marquesses
- princelings
- marquis
- princelets
- marchesi
- seigniors
- lordships
- counts
- margraves
- rajas
- sires
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peasants
- peons
- commoners
- boors
- plebeians
- churls
- fellaheen
- plebs
- cotters
- peones
- fellahin
- proletarians
- toilers
- cottars
2
as in guys
an adult male human being ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats Synonyms & Similar Words
- guys
- males
- dudes
- gents
- men
- fellas
- fellows
- lads
- chaps
- blokes
- hombres
- cats
- bastards
- fellers
- bucks
- galoots
- chappies
- jokers
- joes
- sirs
- masters
- misters
- jacks
- buddies
- busters
3
as in gallants
an honorable and courteous man was such a gentleman that he offered to call a cab for me Synonyms & Similar Words
- gallants
- aristocrats
- princes
- knights
- cavaliers
- dudes
- beaux
- beaus
- dandies
- fops
- charmers
- bucks
- patricians
- blades
- lady's men
- ladies' men
- petits-maîtres
- swells
- captivators
- jays
- blood
- Galahads
- Beau Brummells
- smoothies
- nitrolim
- nitrolime
- nitromagnesite
- nitrometers
- nitromethane
- nitromethanes
- nitromuriatic acid
- nitronaphthalene
- nitrone
- nitronic acid
- nitronium
- nitroparaffin
- nitroparaffins
- nitrophenol
- nitrophilous
- nitrophyte
- nitrophytic
- nitropropane
- nitroprussiate
- nitros
- nitros-
- nitrosamine
- nitrosamines
- nitrosify
- nitrosite