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

Also, the Rams’ offense was far more polished than that of the Lions or Saints. —Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 17 Aug. 2025

The app is pretty polished, but serves more as a means of advertising Navee products than customizing your ride. —New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2025

This outfit is ideal for weekends in the city and European vacations alike (although an international trip may warrant foregoing the baseball cap in lieu of something more polished). —Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025

The pleats give the pants a polished look, while the wide leg is breezy and roomy. —Nicol Natale, People.com, 15 Aug. 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