politer

Politer is the comparative form of the English adjective polite. It is used to compare levels of courteous behavior or civility between two subjects or groups. In contemporary standard English, the more common and widely accepted way to express this comparison is with more polite, as in “She is more polite than her brother.”

The form politer is largely considered archaic, regional, or informal in modern usage. While it can appear in older texts or in certain dialects, many modern style guides advise speakers and writers to avoid politer in favor of more polite for clarity and formality. The existence of politer reflects a historical pattern in English where some two-syllable adjectives could take the -er suffix to form a comparative.

Etymology-wise, polite derives from Middle English polit, itself from Old French polit and ultimately from Latin politus, meaning refined or polished. The comparative suffix -er attaches to many adjectives in English, giving politer in contexts where the form is accepted, though this is less common today.

Usage guidance: when aiming for modern, formal, or widely understood English, use more polite. If quoting historical texts or reproducing older prose, politer may appear, but readers may treat it as dated. Politer should not be confused with related terms such as politeness (the noun) or politics (unrelated etymology).

See also: politeness, polite, more polite.