pleasantry

/ˈplezntri/

pleas·ant·ry

BrE /ˈplezntri/

NAmE /ˈplezntri/

[C, usually pl., U] (

plural

pleas·ant·ries) (formal)

a friendly remark made in order to be polite

After exchanging the usual pleasantries, they got down to serious discussion.