refined

[ri-fahynd]

adjective

1. having or showing well-bred feeling, taste, etc..

   refined people.

   Synonyms: elegant, genteel, courtly, civilized, courteous, polite, polished, cultivated
   Antonyms: crude, coarse, rude

2. freed or free from coarseness, vulgarity, etc..

   refined taste.

3. freed from impurities.

   refined sugar.

   Synonyms: distilled

4. very subtle, precise, or exact.

   refined distinctions.

refined

/ rɪˈfaɪnd /

adjective

1. not coarse or vulgar; genteel, elegant, or polite

2. subtle; discriminating

3. freed from impurities; purified

Other Word Forms

• refinedly adverb
• refinedness noun
• half-refined adjective
• nonrefined adjective
• quasi-refined adjective
• semirefined adjective
• superrefined adjective
• ultrarefined adjective
• well-refined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of refined¹

First recorded in 1565–75; refine + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Their lot is similar to that of abused healthcare workers and public school teachers, other subjects served well by the mockumentary architecture that “The Office” refined into a workplace comedy standard.

From Salon

Evans said he has a refined daily routine and is not overthinking.

From Los Angeles Times

Shettima said the temporary ban would enable Nigeria to move from being an exporter of the raw nuts to a global supplier of refined shea products.

From BBC

And with each new project, Qualley has only refined the acumen of her already sharp talents.

From Salon

"Over time, procurement price of ethanol has increased and now the weighted average price of ethanol is higher than cost of refined petrol," the petroleum ministry said earlier this month.

From BBC

Related Words

• classy 
• cultivated 
• delicate 
• discriminating 
• elegant 
• genteel 
• polished 
• precise 
• sophisticated 
• subtle 
• tasteful 
• urbane