cultured

adjective

cul·​tured ˈkəl-chərd 

1

: cultivated

2

: produced under artificial conditions

cultured viruses

cultured pearls

Synonyms of cultured

• civilized
• polished
• cultivated
• accomplished

Examples of cultured in a Sentence

the most highly cultured period of the country's long history

Recent Examples on the Web

The necklace is made up of 178 diamonds totaling about 52 carats and another seven South Sea cultured pearls. — Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 23 July 2026

The collapse of the Gulf pearling industry — which began in the late 1920s on the arrival of cheaper Japanese cultured pearls — brought widespread poverty to the region, until the discovery of oil shortly after. — Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 15 July 2026

Olmo’s deftness of touch to set up Porro for Spain’s second goal epitomised Spain’s cultured performance on the ball, but the fact that Spain’s performance was not always aesthetically pleasing will arguably please De la Fuente more. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 July 2026

The University of Bologna, the oldest in Europe, keeps the city lively, young, cultured, and healthy—there’s a medical school here, and Bologna and Emilia Romagna are top-rated for health care. — Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cultured

• uncultured

Kids Definition

cultured

adjective

1

: cultivated sense 2

2

: produced under artificial conditions

cultured viruses

cultured pearls