Courtesy is polite, considerate behavior that shows respect for others. When you hold a door open for someone carrying packages, say “excuse me” before interrupting, or thank a server at a restaurant, you're showing courtesy.

Courtesy includes small actions that make daily life more pleasant: waiting your turn in line, speaking kindly even when frustrated, or acknowledging someone's help with a genuine “thank you.” These gestures might seem minor, but they create an atmosphere of mutual respect. A courteous person thinks about how their actions affect others and chooses to be thoughtful rather than rude or careless.

Today, courtesy is simpler but just as important. It's not about fancy manners or formal etiquette. It's about basic respect and consideration.

You might hear about a courtesy call, which is a phone call made out of politeness rather than necessity, or receive something as a courtesy, meaning it's provided as a favor or gesture of goodwill. When a business offers a service “courtesy of” someone, they're acknowledging who made it possible.