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
1
: of the color buff
2
or buffed
: having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises
buffed; buffing; buffs
2
: to give a velvety surface to (leather)
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
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2025
The prime audience is grindhouse movie buffs, for sure, but Jarrett’s film has more to talk about than such kitsch as the making of 1968’s The Astro Zombies, raising serious questions about the alarming state of race and gender in postwar America.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 July 2025
Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Compared to Borat’s rather hairy visage in the lime green singlet, Baron Cohen’s transformed physique is buff, and well, bald.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
Finally, to ensure the doors are working smoothly, Sibley suggests applying high-quality car wax to the aluminum, buffing off the wax with a microfiber towel, and then finishing with a light coat of WD40 or Silicone spray on the rollers.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
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Noun
This Range Rover is from the nameplate’s third generation, better known to Land Rover buffs as the L322.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2025
The prime audience is grindhouse movie buffs, for sure, but Jarrett’s film has more to talk about than such kitsch as the making of 1968’s The Astro Zombies, raising serious questions about the alarming state of race and gender in postwar America.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 July 2025
Adjective
The victim’s Instagram page features photos of the two of them dating to 2016, often showing off their buff physiques and globetrotting together.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
Compared to Borat’s rather hairy visage in the lime green singlet, Baron Cohen’s transformed physique is buff, and well, bald.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Verb
Her makeup was equally as playful, consisting of inky eyeliner buffed on her eyelids and drawn in her waterline, baby pink blush on her cheekbones, thin brows and a brown-mauve lip shade.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
Finally, to ensure the doors are working smoothly, Sibley suggests applying high-quality car wax to the aluminum, buffing off the wax with a microfiber towel, and then finishing with a light coat of WD40 or Silicone spray on the rollers.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Cite this Entry
“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buff. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
buff
1 of 3 noun1
: 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
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