This is the 11065th most frequent French word.
politesse
Politeness; courteous behavior or manners.
In this sentence, 'politesse' is used as a general concept or value.
La politesse est essentielle dans les interactions sociales.
Politeness is essential in social interactions.
Here, 'politesse' is used to describe an action motivated by manners or courtesy.
Elle m'a adressé un sourire par politesse.
She gave me a smile out of politeness.
In this context, 'politesse' refers to the codified behavior or practices related to being polite.