sophisticate

[ noun adjective suh-fis-ti-kit, -keyt; verb suh-fis-ti-keyt ]

noun

1. a sophisticated person.

adjective

1. sophisticated.

verb (used with object)

, so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing.

1. to make less natural, simple, or ingenuous; make worldly-wise.
2. to alter; pervert:

   to sophisticate a meaning beyond recognition.

verb (used without object)

, so·phis·ti·cat·ed, so·phis·ti·cat·ing.

1. to use sophistry; quibble.

sophisticate

verb

1. tr to make (someone) less natural or innocent, as by education
2. to pervert or corrupt (an argument, etc) by sophistry
3. tr to make more complex or refined
4. rare.
   to falsify (a text, etc) by alterations

noun

1. a sophisticated person

Derived Forms

• soˈphistiˌcator, noun
• soˌphistiˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• outso·phisti·cate verb (used with object) outsophisticated outsophisticating

Word History and Origins

Origin of sophisticate¹

1350–1400; Middle English (adj. and v.) < Medieval Latin sophisticātus (past participle of sophisticāre to tamper with, disguise, trick with words), equivalent to Latin sophistic ( us ) ( sophistic ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sophisticate¹

C14: from Medieval Latin sophisticāre, from Latin sophisticus sophistic

Example Sentences

They have outstanding eye-vision and sophisticated communication that allows them to monitor very large areas of land when many individuals work together.

From Science Daily

Their findings suggest this connection between the more sophisticated parts of the brain and the lower brainstem's breathing center allows us to coordinate our breathing with our current behaviors and emotional state.

From Science Daily

The tactics used at the time — deforestation and afforestation, cutting off water supplies, raids on Palestinian communities — are still being applied today, with the addition of 21st-century weapons and a far more sophisticated state apparatus.

From Salon

When this familiarity dovetailed with a catfishing scheme, Tegan and many fans became ensnared in a sophisticated identity theft operation that lasted over 15 years.

From New York Times

A small-town kid born out of wedlock, he moved from the rustic countryside of Vinci, 30 miles west of Florence, to the sophisticated city to make his way.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• corrupt
• degrade
• pollute