courtesy call: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral. Common in professional, diplomatic, and business contexts.
Quick answer
What does “courtesy call” mean?
A brief, formal visit or communication made as a polite gesture, often to show respect or maintain goodwill, rather than for a substantive purpose.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A brief, formal visit or communication made as a polite gesture, often to show respect or maintain goodwill, rather than for a substantive purpose.
Can refer to a superficial contact made out of obligation (e.g., a sales follow-up, a diplomatic visit, a reminder call), sometimes with an implied secondary motive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. Slightly more common in British English in diplomatic/political reporting.
Connotations
Similar in both: politeness, formality, potential superficiality.
Frequency
Moderate and comparable frequency in professional contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “courtesy call” in a Sentence
[Subject] made a courtesy call to [Recipient/Place].It was merely a courtesy call.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “courtesy call” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ambassador will courtesy-call on the prime minister next week.
- They were courtesy-called by the recruitment agency.
American English
- The senator courtesy-called his counterpart after the election.
- We were courtesy-called before the inspection.
adjective
British English
- They arranged a courtesy-call meeting with the investors.
- It was a mere courtesy-call exercise.
American English
- He made a courtesy-call visit to the headquarters.
- The report was just a courtesy-call document.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A salesperson makes a courtesy call to a client after a deal to maintain the relationship.
Academic
Rare, except in political science or diplomatic history texts discussing state visits.
Everyday
Less common; might be used humorously for a call from a relative out of obligation.
Technical
Used in diplomacy, customer service, and public relations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “courtesy call”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “courtesy call”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “courtesy call”
- Using it for an urgent call ('I got a courtesy call from the school about my sick child' – incorrect).
- Confusing with 'courtesy visit' (identical meaning, but 'call' can be telephonic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be a physical visit (common in diplomacy) or a telephonic call. The key is the polite, often formal and sometimes superficial nature of the contact.
Not necessarily 'no purpose'. Its primary stated purpose is politeness and maintaining relations. There may be a secondary, unstated purpose (e.g., gathering information, subtle influence).
A 'courtesy call' emphasizes the gesture of politeness. A 'follow-up call' emphasizes checking on progress or a previous matter. They can overlap, but motivation differs.
Yes, it can imply something is done perfunctorily, just to fulfil an obligation, without genuine engagement or interest ('It was just a courtesy call, they didn't really listen').
A brief, formal visit or communication made as a polite gesture, often to show respect or maintain goodwill, rather than for a substantive purpose.
Courtesy call is usually formal to neutral. common in professional, diplomatic, and business contexts. in register.
Courtesy call: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɜː.tə.si ˌkɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɝː.t̬ə.si ˌkɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A call of courtesy”
- “More than just a courtesy call”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COURT (like royalty) being very polite (COURTEOUS). A COURTESY CALL is like a 'visit from the court of politeness' - formal and expected.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A GIFT (a gift of politeness).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'courtesy call' LEAST appropriate?