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
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Perfect for history buffs, the village recreates what life was like for settlers in Salem during the 1600s.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
As Ibelin, his buff World of Warcraft avatar named after Orlando Bloom’s character in the Ridley Scott epic Kingdom of Heaven, Steen had romances and regularly doled out advice to his pals.
—Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Some scratches can be buffed out.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Now, half a century after Moxley’s death, an explosive new podcast from NBC News Studios and Highly Replaceable Productions is questioning every conclusion that law enforcement, Greenwich residents, reporters, and true crime buffs have drawn about what transpired that cold October night in 1975.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
Perfect for history buffs, the village recreates what life was like for settlers in Salem during the 1600s.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
If that is the case, then fans will get to hear far more of Berry as the violent and buff villain from Batman's Rogues Gallery.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
As Ibelin, his buff World of Warcraft avatar named after Orlando Bloom’s character in the Ridley Scott epic Kingdom of Heaven, Steen had romances and regularly doled out advice to his pals.
—Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
The main hatch is already open, a small mercy for my purposes, and my torchlight shines back on a wooden ladder, paint worn in the centre of each rung where the crew’s footsteps buffed it away.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Some scratches can be buffed out.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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