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

Small and compact, always fit, Haynes balanced his sophisticated drumming with an equally stylish wardrobe.

From Los Angeles Times

Judges had once declared it Britain's best new building, saying it was "a dynamic, modern and sophisticated exercise in steel, glass and concrete".

From BBC

Actually, the audiences that turned out were pretty sophisticated.

From Los Angeles Times

I read "Clotel" closely to illuminate how Brown made sophisticated arguments against slavery and the oppression of women that retain contemporary relevance.

From Salon

He said Zada had run "a sophisticated enterprise" and that "for him it was all about profit".

From BBC

Related Words

• corrupt
• degrade
• pollute