buff

1 of 3

noun

ˈbəf 

1

: a garment (such as a uniform) made of buff leather

2

: the state of being nude

sunbathing in the buff

3

a

: a moderate orange yellow

b

: a light to moderate yellow

4

: a device having a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) by which polishing material is applied

5

[earlier buff an enthusiast about going to fires; perhaps from the buff overcoats worn by volunteer firefighters in New York City about 1820] : fan, enthusiast

buff

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of the color buff

2

or buffed

ˈbəft 

: having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises

buff

3 of 3

verb

buffed; buffing; buffs

transitive verb

1

: polish, shine

waxed and buffed the floor

2

: to give a velvety surface to (leather)

Synonyms

Noun

• lover
• fan
• sucker
• enthusiast
• fanatic

Verb

• rub
• polish
• sand
• file

Examples of buff in a Sentence

Noun

he's such a film buff that he owns over 3,000 movies

protected by a fully enclosed backyard, the couple would frequently sunbathe in the buff

Adjective

He's at the gym every day trying to get buff.

the buff body of an athlete

Verb

The floors are waxed and buffed every year.

She is going to the salon to get her nails buffed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Thankfully for film buffs, there are plenty of open-air cinemas that pop up throughout Istanbul come summertime. —Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

This one's got it all: friendship, romance, motherhood and survival, perfect for historical fiction buffs. —Lizz Schumer, People.com, 6 June 2025

Adjective

The Chanel Le Vernis Ballerina shade is an elevated take on a basic buff manicure — providing a glossy sheen that straddles the line between sophisticated and lighthearted. —Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024

But the magic of Christmas is found in the unexplained, not in watching a buff Santa rappelling into all the world’s chimneys. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024

Verb

Take your second unused microfiber cloth and buff the surface in the grain's direction until no streaks remain and the surface shines. —Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 30 June 2025

Then, once your jewelry is fully dry, buff it with a microfiber cloth. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing buff

• blindman's buff
• buff leather
• buff up
• in the buff
• to the buff

Rhymes for buff

• cuff
• duff
• fluff
• gruff
• hough
• huff
• luff
• muff
• puff
• rough
• ruff
• scruff

Kids Definition

buff

1 of 3 noun

ˈbəf 

1

: an orange yellow

2

: a device with a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) for applying polishing material

3

: fan entry 3, enthusiast

a tennis buff

buff

2 of 3 adjective

: of the color buff

buff

3 of 3 verb

: to polish with or as if with a buff