polished

adjective

pol·​ished ˈpä-lisht 

1

: subjected to polishing : made smooth and glossy by or as if by polishing

a polished surface

polished silver

2

: characterized by a high degree of development, finish, or refinement : free from imperfections

a polished performance/performer

a highly polished piece of writing

3

somewhat old-fashioned : characterized by elegance and refinement

a polished gentleman

polished society

Synonyms

• sleek
• glossy
• glistening
• satin

Examples of polished in a Sentence

she could see her face reflected in the polished hood of the car

showing the polished manners of a cosmopolitan woman

Recent Examples on the Web

Even the host’s polished bit unraveled. —Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Pair with tights and chunky boots for a fashion-forward look or throw it on with a pair of sneakers to keep things comfy yet polished. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025

Behind the polished hair was professional heat styling powered by ghd hair tools, ensuring strands were molded without compromising health. —Essence, 14 Sep. 2025

Her polished nails appear in my photos of the materials, framing images of discrimination and death. —Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English polisshed, from past participle of polisshen to polish

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polished

• abolished
• demolished
• unpolished