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
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
Theater lovers, though, often head to Shakespeare & Company, a long-running festival with a busy calendar of plays, while readers and history buffs make time for The Mount, Edith Wharton’s former estate.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 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
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
Steel wool is a bit too effective and will buff away the seasoning.
—Julie Harans, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
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Noun
Another nearby point of interest for history buffs is Historic Blenheim and Civil War Interpretive Center, a Greek Revival-style house dating to 1859 that preserves signatures and pictographs from Federal soldiers who once lived there.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
Theater lovers, though, often head to Shakespeare & Company, a long-running festival with a busy calendar of plays, while readers and history buffs make time for The Mount, Edith Wharton’s former estate.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 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
Some scratches can be buffed out.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
Steel wool is a bit too effective and will buff away the seasoning.
—Julie Harans, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 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 6 Oct. 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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