SINCE 1828

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1

buff

noun \ ˈbəf \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of buff

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

See buff defined for kids

Examples of buff in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of buff from the Web

It’s fantastic luck that Chris got the secret idol clue wrapped in his new buff.

— stephen fishbach, PEOPLE.com, "Stephen Fishbach's Survivor Blog: A Thrilling Merge Brings Strategy, Drama & Questionable Rapping," 11 Apr. 2018
More: Get to know Mason's 'Survivor' contestant Angela Perkins As with all merges, things started off with a huge feast while everyone tried on their new black buffs.

— rasputin todd, Cincinnati.com, "Who was voted off 'Survivor' this week? (April 11) Did Mason's Angela Perkins advance?," 11 Apr. 2018
History buffs will want to read this unique account, via Hidden City, from a man who came to Philadelphia from Russia, alone, at age 13 in 1890.

— aubrey nagle, Philly.com, "Sixers star needs surgery, S. Jersey church hires armed police, Nova Nation preps for Final Four | Morning Newsletter," 30 Mar. 2018
The Sacramento City Council, led by Councilwoman Angelique Ashby and local history buffs, is trying to change that.

— ryan lillis, sacbee, "Sacramento had the state’s first woman in office. She’s finally being honored | The Sacramento Bee," 22 Mar. 2018
For decades, Civil War buffs and assorted fortune seekers have combed the hills and forests of northwestern Pennsylvania, looking for a Union shipment of gold that reportedly was lost near tiny Dents Run in June 1863.

— brandon griggs, CNN, "A load of gold worth up to $54 million went missing during the Civil War. There may be a break in the case," 19 Mar. 2018
Last July, a Japanese military history buff apparently undermined a new theory that Earhart survived a crash-landing in the Pacific Ocean.

— CBS News, "Bones found in 1940 likely belong to Amelia Earhart, researcher claims," 8 Mar. 2018
Each time, roughly once every decade or two, new maritime history buffs are born.

— alex horton, Washington Post, "Nor’easter winds reveal a surprising beach discovery: The remains of a Revolutionary War-era ship," 5 Mar. 2018
Bellagio Gallery of Fine ArtArt and history buffs should head to the Bellagio during their trip.

— Condé Nast Traveler, "What to Do in Las Vegas in March 2018," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of buff

Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1570

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

buff Synonyms

Synonyms

addict, aficionado (also afficionado), bug, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué (also habitue), head, hound, junkie (also junky), lover, maniac, maven (also mavin), nut, sucker;

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

belittler, carper, critic, detractor;

Related Words

admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante;

authority, expert;

adherent, convert, cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, votary;

advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, exponent, friend, patron, promoter, proponent, supporter;

partisan (also partizan), zealot;

booster, rooter, well-wisher;

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

2

buff

adjective

Definition of buff

1 : of the color buff

2 or buffed : having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises

See buff defined for English-language learners

Examples of buff in a Sentence

He's at the gym every day trying to get buff.
the buff body of an athlete

Recent Examples of buff from the Web

Many animals compensate for puny muscles with speed, but muscles—even in the buffest bodybuilder—can only contract so fast.

— National Geographic, "Watch Spider Jaws Move as Quickly as World's Fastest Runner," 7 Apr. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of buff

1746

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

3

buff

verb

Definition of buff

transitive verb

1 : polish, shine

waxed and buffed the floor

2 : to give a velvety surface to (leather)

See buff defined for English-language learners

Examples of buff in a Sentence

The floors are waxed and buffed every year.
She is going to the salon to get her nails buffed.

Recent Examples of buff from the Web

Use a fluffy, rounded foundation brush like Sephora #55 to buff product right into the skin.

— marissa desantis, Teen Vogue, "The Best Foundation Tips for a Flawless Application," 9 Apr. 2018
For the history buffs out there, equities recorded their worst second-quarter start since 1929, shortly before the Great Depression.

— bess levin, The Hive, "Pro-Business President is Driving Wall Street Into A Ditch," 2 Apr. 2018
We were required to shine and buff our own shoes every Sunday.

— julie kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "SJP On Her Love Affair With Shoes and Those SATC3 Rumors," 25 Feb. 2014
In an Instastory post, Rihanna squeezed a dollop of Who Needs Clothes onto her shoulder and buffed it in with a kabuki brush.

— refinery29.com, "Fenty "Body Lava" Is Coming — & Rihanna's Tutorial Is Everything," 27 Mar. 2018
Joss buffed and hydrated her head-to-toe using St. Tropez Tan Enhancing Body Polish as well as the Body Moisturizer.

— nicole catanese, Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Get Kate Moss's Playboy Tan," 5 Dec. 2013
Surgeons have buffed the battle scars and wrinkles off Berlusconi’s face, giving him an improbably youthful air.

— michael birnbaum, Washington Post, "Italy’s Berlusconi looks set to return as a kingmaker after years in political limbo," 24 Feb. 2018
The story spun around her, though, is a fairy tale of tentative independence with every edge buffed smooth.

— jeannette catsoulis, New York Times, "Review: Boldly Going Toward Independence in ‘Please Stand By’," 25 Jan. 2018
The menu is American, buffed with touches like a smoked fish dip alongside crudités, linguine with clams in a shellfish bisque, arugula and ricotta salata in the kale salad, and lobster spiced with harissa and served with a savory bread pudding.

— florence fabricant, New York Times, "Soogil, From a Former Hanjan Chef, Opens in the East Village," 9 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of buff

1838

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

buff Synonyms

Synonyms

burnish, dress, furbish, gloss, grind, polish, rub, shine, smooth;

Near Antonyms

rough (up), roughen, ruffle, scuff (up);

Related Words

coat, glaze, japan, lacquer, varnish;

face, finish, veneer;

file, rasp, sand, sandblast, sandpaper, scour, scrape, scrub;

bob, bone, lap;

BUFF Defined for English Language Learners

buff

adjective

Definition of buff for English Language Learners

: having a strong, muscular body or form

buff

verb

Definition of buff for English Language Learners

: to make (a surface) smooth and shiny by rubbing it

BUFF Defined for Kids

1

buff

noun \ ˈbəf \

Definition of buff for Students

1 : a pale orange yellow

2 : a stick or wheel with a soft surface for applying polish

3 : ³fan a music buff

2

buff

verb

Definition of buff for Students

buffed; buffing

: to polish with or as if with a buff

Learn More about buff

See words that rhyme with buff Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for buff Spanish Central: Translation of buff Nglish: Translation of buff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of buff for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

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WORD OF THE DAY

loath

play

unwilling or reluctant

BROWSE DICTIONARY

buetschliite

Buettneriaceae

buff

buffa

buffability

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Examples: buff in a Sentence