refined

adjective

re·​fined ri-ˈfīnd 

1

: free from impurities

2

: fastidious, cultivated

3

: precise, exact

a refined test for radioactivity

Synonyms

• evolved
• improved
• advanced
• higher
• developed

Examples of refined in a Sentence

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

The refined indoor-outdoor Makoko is open in the morning for leisurely breakfasts, then reopens for dinners showcasing creative and contemporary Costa Rican fare. —Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

With a refined sense of color and play, Belden House embodies and unites those two distinctly American identities. —Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2025

The lack of a universal fashion message was offset by the versatility of the styling options offered that embraced different heritage menswear references — from soft and lightweight iterations of traditional suiting to refined workwear tropes and a good chunk of preppy inflections. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 June 2025

There are solid playmakers on both sides of the ball, and the Broncos are expected to be even more refined. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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