buff

1 of 3

noun

Synonyms of buffnext
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 : 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)

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
History buffs will find plenty of points of interest in the city, which was founded as a gold camp during Montana’s gold rush. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025 The tiny stretch becomes a big landmark for music lovers, historians, and photography buffs. Molly McCrea, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Christopher Schwarzenegger, 28, stunned onlookers with his buff new build while out with sister Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, brother-in-law Chris Pratt and their children for some pumpkin-picking fun in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 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
Apply a small drop of toothpaste on your fingertip and gently buff out the scratches. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025 The robotic manicure will remove old polish, buff the cuticles, file and shape the nails and apply new polish, as well as a topcoat. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for buff

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of buff was in 1570

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buff. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

buff

1 of 3 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on buff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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