common courtesy
noun
: politeness that people can usually be expected to show
He didn't even have the common courtesy to say goodbye when he left.
Examples of common courtesy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hayes firmly validated the woman's anger at Jake repeatedly using her bathroom, calling his actions a violation of common courtesy and respect.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
For the sake of common courtesy, North Americans used to their wide-open spaces and large personal space bubbles need to be spatially aware.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2025
Turns out the original poster isn't alone, and this lack of common courtesy happens elsewhere as well.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 20 Jan. 2025
In these unsettling times when common sense, common decency and common courtesy is anything but common, perhaps a brief refresher on beach etiquette would be well advised?
—Steve Cambria, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2024
Some viewers expressed the opposite view: having kids in the car doesn't excuse parents from the common courtesy of returning shopping carts to the right place.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 8 June 2024
There are hard-and-fast rules—and then there's common courtesy.
—Bobby Laurie, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2023
The riders make their own rules and do not abide by traffic laws or even common courtesy to other vehicles.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2024
Besides this simple common courtesy, Sweeney says that guests should only do one thing: Feel at home in their house, no rules applied.
—Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Melissa Fleur Afshar, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
For the sake of common courtesy, North Americans used to their wide-open spaces and large personal space bubbles need to be spatially aware.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2025
Turns out the original poster isn't alone, and this lack of common courtesy happens elsewhere as well.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 20 Jan. 2025
In these unsettling times when common sense, common decency and common courtesy is anything but common, perhaps a brief refresher on beach etiquette would be well advised?
—Steve Cambria, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2024
Some viewers expressed the opposite view: having kids in the car doesn't excuse parents from the common courtesy of returning shopping carts to the right place.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 8 June 2024
There are hard-and-fast rules—and then there's common courtesy.
—Bobby Laurie, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 July 2023
The riders make their own rules and do not abide by traffic laws or even common courtesy to other vehicles.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2024
Besides this simple common courtesy, Sweeney says that guests should only do one thing: Feel at home in their house, no rules applied.
—Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Common courtesy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common%20courtesy. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share