refinement
noun
re·fine·ment
ri-ˈfīn-mənt 
1
: the action or process of refining
2
: the quality or state of being refined : cultivation
3
a
: a refined feature or method
b
: a highly refined distinction : subtlety
c
: a contrivance or device intended to improve or perfect
Synonyms
Examples of refinement in a Sentence
the recent refinements in this area of medical technology
had a sense of refinement that her small hometown couldn't satisfy, so she moved to New York City to be closer to great museums and concert halls
Recent Examples on the Web
That process could begin Thursday with the first round of the NFL draft, with further refinements coming in the final six rounds Friday and Saturday.
—
Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024
Jaeger-LeCoultre, like so many other brands, was all about visual refinement for this year, and the storied builder of high complications was very much showing off its mechanical prowess by featuring the Duometre movements this year.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
What’s happening is a combination of the skin thinning and growing looser—and the cartilage that used to give your nose or ears angularity and refinement suddenly softening and spreading.
—Genevieve Monsma, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
After her release, maintaining her image of class and refinement was more important than ever, as she was routinely labeled a criminal in the press.
—Paul Alexander, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Rooted in the tradition of Swiss medicine, Valmont's products are a blend of purity, innovation, and refinement.
—Julie Loffredi, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The ones here run the gamut with their industrial refinement, fetishistic hand-tooling, local woods and fabrics, and suave, often witty, whisperingly delicate lines and silhouettes.
—Michael Kimmelman Clement Pascal, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
In summary, while regulatory and policy environments are evolving to better support climate tech innovations, there's a consensus on the need for further refinement to make these systems more accessible and effective for all stakeholders involved.
—Dasha Shunina, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
With these welcome refinements, as well as accurate measurements in our testing, the Wyze Scale X earns our Editors’ Choice award for budget-friendly smart scales.
—PCMAG, 26 Jan. 2024
Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024
Jaeger-LeCoultre, like so many other brands, was all about visual refinement for this year, and the storied builder of high complications was very much showing off its mechanical prowess by featuring the Duometre movements this year.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
What’s happening is a combination of the skin thinning and growing looser—and the cartilage that used to give your nose or ears angularity and refinement suddenly softening and spreading.
—Genevieve Monsma, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
After her release, maintaining her image of class and refinement was more important than ever, as she was routinely labeled a criminal in the press.
—Paul Alexander, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Rooted in the tradition of Swiss medicine, Valmont's products are a blend of purity, innovation, and refinement.
—Julie Loffredi, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The ones here run the gamut with their industrial refinement, fetishistic hand-tooling, local woods and fabrics, and suave, often witty, whisperingly delicate lines and silhouettes.
—Michael Kimmelman Clement Pascal, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
In summary, while regulatory and policy environments are evolving to better support climate tech innovations, there's a consensus on the need for further refinement to make these systems more accessible and effective for all stakeholders involved.
—Dasha Shunina, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
With these welcome refinements, as well as accurate measurements in our testing, the Wyze Scale X earns our Editors’ Choice award for budget-friendly smart scales.
—PCMAG, 26 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'refinement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near refinement
Cite this Entry
“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refinement. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refinement
noun
re·fine·ment
ri-ˈfīn-mənt
1
: the action or process of refining
2
: the state of being refined : cultivation
3
a
: something that has been refined
refinements in dress and behavior
b
: something intended to improve or refine
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