pleasantry

noun

pleas·​ant·​ry ˈple-zᵊn-trē 

plural pleasantries

1

: a humorous act or remark : jest

2

: an agreeable playfulness in conversation : banter

3

: a polite social remark

exchanged pleasantries

Synonyms

• amenity
• attention
• civility
• courtesy
• formality
• gesture
• politeness

Examples of pleasantry in a Sentence

“how are you” is merely a social pleasantry

his after-dinner speeches usually include the sort of gentle pleasantry that raises a chuckle

Recent Examples on the Web

As the ladies settle in and gather for lunch, casual pleasantries quickly give way to playful shade—par for the course with this group. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 16 Dec. 2024

Instead of sharing a meal and exchanging pleasantries at a restaurant or coffee shop, the two men got to know each other by diving into a 45-minute workout, complete with pushups, chest presses and intense cardio. —Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024

At the time, Mattei was in a relationship so the pair didn't connect beyond an exchange of pleasantries. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024

After some terse catching-up pleasantries, Mike gets to the point. —Noel Murray, Vulture, 23 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pleasantry

noun

pleas·​ant·​ry ˈplez-ᵊn-trē 

plural pleasantries

1

: agreeable playfulness in conversation

2

a

: a humorous act or speech

b

: a light or casual polite remark