polish

1 of 4

verb

pol·​ish ˈpä-lish 

polished; polishing; polishes

transitive verb

1

: to make smooth and glossy usually by friction : burnish

2

: to smooth, soften, or refine in manners or condition

3

: to bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state : perfect

intransitive verb

: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction

polisher noun

polish

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

a

: a smooth glossy surface : luster

b

: freedom from rudeness or coarseness : culture

c

: a state of high development or refinement

2

: the action or process of polishing

3

: a preparation that is used to produce a gloss and often a color for the protection and decoration of a surface

furniture polish

nail polish

Polish

3 of 4

adjective

Pol·​ish ˈpō-lish 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish

Polish

4 of 4

noun (2)

: the Slavic language of the Poles

Synonyms

Verb

• rub
• smooth
• shine
• coat
• gloss

Noun (1)

• accomplishment
• refinement
• culture
• education
• civilization
• knowledge
• cultivation
• literacy
• manners

Examples of polish in a Sentence

Verb

He spent the summer polishing his math skills.

you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance

Noun (1)

I need more shoe polish.

Did you use a wax polish on the table or an oil-based one?

The movie has the polish we've come to expect from that director.

He's rude and lacks polish.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Vinegar is one of the most versatile products in the pantry with uses that range from adding pep to coleslaw and barbecue sauce to protecting houseplants and polishing silver. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025

Between the Trump Administration declaring private accounts a red flag for foreign students and prospective employers using AI to find fake applicants, the old rules of polishing and making your accounts private are becoming obsolete. —Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Noun

These days, Stewart’s concerts take their cues from his long-running Las Vegas residencies, and there was a snazzy polish to Tuesday’s proceedings. —Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 15 Aug. 2025

The result is a hiring feedback loop that prioritizes polish over potential, leaving both sides wondering what’s real. —Nicholas Wyman, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Adjective

Considerable research by historians has found that some Polish individuals and groups did collaborate with the Nazi occupiers. —George Ramsay, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025

After the appeals court decision, Bragg, who was not yet in office during the first trial, vowed to retry the case with additional charges relating to Polish model Kaja Sokola. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English polisshen, from Anglo-French poliss-, stem of polir, from Latin polire

Adjective

Pole

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing polish

• apple-polish
• French polish
• nail polish
• polish off
• spit and polish
• take a high polish
• to a polish

Rhymes for polish

• gaulish
• smallish
• abolish
• demolish

Kids Definition

polish

1 of 4 verb

pol·​ish ˈpäl-ish 

1

: to make smooth and glossy usually by rubbing

2

: to smooth or improve in manners, condition, or style

3

: to bring to a highly developed or finished state

polish a technique

polisher noun

polish

2 of 4 noun

1

a

: a smooth glossy surface : luster

b

: good manners : refinement

2

: the action or process of polishing

3

: a substance prepared for use in polishing

shoe polish

nail polish

Polish

3 of 4 adjective

Pol·​ish ˈpō-lish 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish

Polish

4 of 4 noun

: the Slavic language of the Poles