refined

American  

[ri-fahynd] / rɪˈfaɪnd /

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.

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refined British  

/ rɪˈfaɪnd /

adjective

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

2. subtle; discriminating

3. freed from impurities; purified

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of refined

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

Example Sentences

Over the next decades, questions on language, literacy and occupation were refined, adding secondary work and dependency details.

From BBC

Jet fuel, which is refined from crude oil, is among the biggest operating costs that airlines face.

From The Wall Street Journal

Like the new federal dietary guidelines released back in January, the document cautions against processed foods and refined sugars.

From Los Angeles Times

While the crude oil is now in Cuba, it still needs to be refined at an ageing refinery in Havana – a process which could take longer than a week.

From BBC

The move would be a huge blow to countries like the Philippines and Australia, which are big buyers of refined products from China.

From BBC

Related Words

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