polished

1 of 2

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

polished

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of polish entry 1

Synonyms of polished

Adjective

• sleek
• glossy
• glistening
• satin

Examples of polished in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

This shirt dress offers the same polished vibe with flowy, easy comfort. — Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2026

Business teams can now summarize meetings, research contacts, personalize outreach, generate follow-ups, and produce polished language at speed. — K.h. Koehler, Freep.com, 20 Aug. 2026

This relaxed-but-polished organic cotton sweater has a classic crew neckline and ribbed trimming to elevate the look. — Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 20 Aug. 2026

Luckily, there’s a polished alternative to solve my outerwear dilemma. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English polisshed, from past participle of polisshen to polish

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polished

• abolished
• demolished
• unpolished