refined

1 of 2

adjective

re·​fined ri-ˈfīnd 

1

: free from impurities

2

: fastidious, cultivated

3

: precise, exact

a refined test for radioactivity

refined

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of refine

Synonyms of refined

Adjective

• evolved
• improved
• advanced
• higher
• developed

Examples of refined in a Sentence

Adjective

She has become more refined in her painting technique.

He has very refined manners.

refined and elegant works of art

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Upgrade Your Pastries With More Fiber and Protein Pastries and bakery-style breakfasts like muffins or croissants are tasty and tempting, but they’re often made with refined flour, which strips away important blood-sugar-stabilizing nutrients. — Caitlin Beale, HEALTH, 29 Oct. 2026

The company’s second vessel, Oro II, is scheduled to launch in February 2027, with seven rooms and the same refined hospitality as past guests have come to expect. — Susan B. Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2026

And while her new partnership with stylist Law Roach has ushered in a more refined era of archival fashion, some things are simply too good to give up. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026

Across the courtyard sits a one-bedroom guest cottage sporting the same refined mountain home aesthetic. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for refined

• countersigned
• disinclined
• humankind
• interlined
• intertwined
• mastermind
• misaligned
• nonaligned
• predefined
• realigned
• reassigned
• recombined

Kids Definition

refined

adjective

re·​fined

ri-ˈfīnd

1

: socially well-trained : well-bred, cultivated

very refined manners

2

: freed from impurities : pure

refined sugar

3

: carried to a fine point : subtle

refined measurements