0 a polite and often slightly humorous remark, usually made to help other people feel relaxed: --
After exchanging pleasantries, the delegation revealed the purpose of their visit.
1 a polite remark, usually made by people when they first meet to show they are friendly: --
That is of course at least a pleasantry, but it commands some very powerful recognition of a golden thread that runs through all those religions.
However, with the pleasantries over, let us go to battle.
They are certainly the end of the social pleasantries.
Apart from the interchange of pleasantries in this debate, we have had running through it the undertone of a long-term policy.
After pleasantries have been exchanged about names, the weather and where people live, the conversation usually turns to asking people what work they do.
This is not a time for cliche-ridden pleasantries about their contribution.
At any rate, we enjoyed his amiable pleasantries and his underlying seriousness.
Let us get the pleasantries out of the way.
