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 Words From

• re·fin·ed·ly [ri-, fahy, -nid-lee, -, fahynd, -], adverb
• re·fined·ness noun
• half-re·fined adjective
• nonre·fined adjective
• quasi-re·fined adjective
• semi·re·fined adjective
• super·re·fined adjective
• ultra·re·fined adjective
• well-re·fined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of refined¹

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

Example Sentences

There are many marvelous loans, not least the so-called Spitzer Cross from the Cleveland Museum of Art, a famous and exquisitely refined 12th century Limoges enamel.

From Los Angeles Times

The number of barrels of refined petroleum it can receive is capped by the United Nations at 500,000 annually, well below the amount it needs.

From BBC

His last high-profile appearance rapping was on Prince Po and Oh No’s 2013 track “U Already,” where he proved that despite his challenges, his lyrics and flow were as definitively refined as ever.

From Los Angeles Times

A further societal benefit will be a refined map of earthquake-prone faults.

From Science Magazine

So Africa’s largest oil producer has been exporting its crude which is then refined abroad, much to the delight of some well-connected traders.

From BBC

Related Words

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