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
Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025
But the glittering Jazz Age space is sure to attract history buffs and cocktail lovers alike, no matter the weather.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 19 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
Julie Harans, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
Using light pressure, begin buffing out the scratch working only in the direction of the grain.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for buff
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Noun
Kicking off its festival run at San Sebastian, the doc is primarily of interest to dance buffs and devotees of both performers, but may wind up courting a subset of the audience for such crossover theater-cinema events as the National Theater’s popular NT Live releases.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025
But the glittering Jazz Age space is sure to attract history buffs and cocktail lovers alike, no matter the weather.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 19 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
Steel wool is a bit too effective and will buff away the seasoning.
—Julie Harans, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025
Using light pressure, begin buffing out the scratch working only in the direction of the grain.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 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 29 Sep. 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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