gentleman
gb/d͡ʒˈɛntəlmən/ us/d͡ʒˈɛntəlmən/
A2
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
A polite and respectful man
A man who is polite and kind to other people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a gentleman
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'gentleman' only refers to rich men; in modern English it mainly means polite and respectful.
Synonyms
gent (Informal abbreviation, less formal tone)
|
sir (Polite form of address, not always implying general character)
Antonyms
boor (Rude or insensitive man)
Collocations
true gentleman
|perfect gentleman
|act like a gentleman
|gentlemanly behavior
Themes
daily life
|social behavior
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Examples
- He held the door open for her like a true gentleman.
- Everyone agreed that Mark was a perfect gentleman at the party.
- Despite the heated debate, he remained a gentleman throughout.
Learner examples
- He is a gentleman who helps people.
- A gentleman says 'please' and 'thank you'.
- My father is a kind gentleman.
- The man is a gentleman at work.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
2
Man of high social class
A man from a rich or important family, often with a high position in society.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a gentleman of [place/family]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this with the polite behavior sense; here it refers to social rank.
Synonyms
nobleman (Member of the nobility; more explicitly tied to titles)
Antonyms
commoner (Person without noble rank or high social status)
Collocations
English gentleman
|country gentleman
|gentleman farmer
Themes
history
|society
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Examples
- The estate had been in the family of an English gentleman for centuries.
- He was a country gentleman with vast lands.
- In the 19th century, only gentlemen could attend certain clubs.
Learner examples
- He is a gentleman with a big house.
- The gentleman owns many fields.
- A gentleman lived in that castle.
Noun
A2
entity
3
Polite way to refer to a man
A polite word for 'man', often used in public speaking or formal situations.
Usage pattern:
Ladies and gentlemen, [statement]
Synonyms
sir (Polite singular address; 'gentleman' often plural in this use)
Collocations
ladies and gentlemen
Themes
communication
|social behavior
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
- This young gentleman will show you to your table.
- The gentlemen at the back have a question.
Learner examples
- Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show.
- The gentleman is waiting for you.
- That gentleman is our teacher.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gentleman
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈɛntəlmən/
US/d͡ʒˈɛntəlmən/
Syllables & stress
gen - tle - man (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (gen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gentleman
- Plural: gentlemen
Word family
Forms
gentlemen
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
ungentlemanly
adjective
Advanced or less common
genteel
adjective
gentry
noun C1
Expressions
gentleman's agreement
1/d͡ʒˈɛntəlmˌʌnz əɡɹˈimənt/
fixed phrase
Informal trust-based agreement
An agreement that is not written down but depends on trust between people.
Examples
- They had only a gentleman's agreement, so nothing was legally binding.
- The deal was based on a gentleman's agreement rather than a contract.
perfect gentleman
1/pˈɚfɛkt d͡ʒˈɛntəlmən/
fixed phrase
Man with ideal manners
A man who always acts polite and kind.
Examples
- He was the perfect gentleman during their date.
- Even under stress, he remained the perfect gentleman.
ladies and gentlemen
1/lˈeɪdiz ˈænd d͡ʒˈɛntəlmɪn/
fixed phrase
Formal greeting to an audience
A polite way to speak to a group of men and women.
Examples
- Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show.
- Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's performance.
- Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.
- Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?