sophisticated

[ suh-fis-ti-key-tid ]

adjective

1. (of a person, ideas, tastes, manners, etc.) altered by education, experience, etc., so as to be worldly-wise; not naive:

   a sophisticated young socialite;

   the sophisticated eye of an experienced journalist.

   Synonyms: cultivated, experienced, cosmopolitan, worldly

   Antonyms: naive

2. pleasing or satisfactory to the tastes of sophisticates, or people who are educated, cultured, and worldly-wise:

   sophisticated music.

3. deceptive; misleading.
4. complex or intricate, as a system, process, piece of machinery, or the like:

   a sophisticated electronic control system.

5. of, for, or reflecting educated taste, knowledgeable use, etc.:

   Many Americans are drinking more sophisticated wines now.

sophisticated

/ səˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. having refined or cultured tastes and habits
2. appealing to sophisticates

   a sophisticated restaurant

3. unduly refined or cultured
4. pretentiously or superficially wise
5. (of machines, methods, etc) complex and refined

Derived Forms

• soˈphistiˌcatedly, adverb

Other Words From

• so·phisti·cated·ly adverb
• hyper·so·phisti·cated adjective
• hyper·so·phisti·cated·ly adverb
• over·so·phisti·cated adjective
• super·so·phisti·cated adjective
• ultra·so·phisti·cated adjective
• ultra·so·phisti·cated·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sophisticated¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; sophisticate + -ed ²

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

• complicated
• delicate
• intricate
• modern
• refined
• subtle