buff

1 of 3

noun

ˈbəf 

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

buff

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of the color buff

2

or buffed

ˈbəft 

: having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises

buff

3 of 3

verb

buffed; buffing; buffs

transitive verb

1

: polish, shine

waxed and buffed the floor

2

: to give a velvety surface to (leather)

Synonyms of buff

Noun

• lover
• sucker
• fan
• enthusiast
• fanatic

Verb

• rub
• polish
• sand
• file

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

Noun

The port city of Tarragona is one of the must-visit places for archaeology buffs, with ancient ruins dating from its time as the Roman colony of Tarraco. — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

History buffs, don’t miss the White River Museum on Park Avenue, which offers a quirky account of local history from inside a pair of the town’s original log buildings. — Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 26 June 2026

Adjective

Bend sits on the dry side of the Cascade Range, so the powder is fluffy during the cold months and the trails are buff in the warm ones. — Graham Averill, Outside, 1 Dec. 2025

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

Verb

This will help buff it in and prevent streaks and smudges. — Deanna Pai, Glamour, 6 June 2026

Follow with a clean dry cloth to dry and buff the tiles and get rid of any streaks. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing buff

• blindman's buff
• buff leather
• buff up
• in the buff
• to the buff

Rhymes for buff

• cuff
• duff
• fluff
• gruff
• hough
• huff
• luff
• muff
• puff
• rough
• ruff
• scruff

Kids Definition

buff

1 of 3 noun

ˈbəf 

1

: 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