Meaning of polite society | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The elite or upper crust of society.
   uncountable
2. That portion of society that is especially concerned with etiquette, proper behavior, and politeness.
   uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“[H]e had been brought up in an extravagant family, who considered tradesmen and manufacturers as a caste disgraceful to polite society.”

“[I]n the midst of the company assembled the reader's humble servant was present⟳, and in a very polite society, too, of "poets, clergymen, men of letters, and members of both Houses of Parliament."”

“[…] a club especially favoured by wits, authors, and the flaneurs of polite society.”

“[S]he managed with considerable effort to keep⟳ up a sufficient outward semblance of mourning to satisfy⟳ the customs and fashions of polite society.”

“Scenes, Lady Jane had explained—on the occasion of his knocking down an objectionable cabman during their honeymoon trip⟳—were of all things what polite society most resolutely abhorred.”

“It used to be said that in polite society one shouldn't discuss⟳ sex or money.”

CEFR level