polished

adjective

pol·​ished ˈpä-lisht 

1

: subjected to polishing : made smooth and glossy by or as if by polishing

a polished surface

polished silver

2

: characterized by a high degree of development, finish, or refinement : free from imperfections

a polished performance/performer

a highly polished piece of writing

3

somewhat old-fashioned : characterized by elegance and refinement

a polished gentleman

polished society

Synonyms of polished

• sleek
• glossy
• glistening
• satin

Examples of polished in a Sentence

she could see her face reflected in the polished hood of the car

showing the polished manners of a cosmopolitan woman

Recent Examples on the Web

Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a major season for statement footwear, but one of the most polished trends, the high-vamp pump, is surprisingly understated. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026

Consisting of a trendy pair of bike shorts and a polished tunic, this outfit bridges the style gap between loungewear and elevated casual. — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026

Instead, those tools filled their social feeds with polished, generic AI content that sounded like every other travel ad. — Joel Frenette, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

From roomy to compact, from polished to rugged, these are the best travel totes on the market. — Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English polisshed, from past participle of polisshen to polish

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polished

• abolished
• demolished
• unpolished