polite society

Definitions

1. 1

   The elite or upper crust of society.

   • [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.
2. 2

   That portion of society that is especially concerned with etiquette, proper behavior, and…

   That portion of society that is especially concerned with etiquette, proper behavior, and politeness.

   • [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.

The neighborhood