refinement

noun

re·fine·ment | \ ri-ˈfīn-mənt

Definition of refinement

1 : the action or process of refining

2 : the quality or state of being refined : cultivation

3a : a refined feature or method

b : a highly refined distinction : subtlety

c : a contrivance or device intended to improve or perfect

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about refinement

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Examples of refinement in a Sentence

the recent refinements in this area of medical technology had a sense of refinement that her small hometown couldn't satisfy, so she moved to New York City to be closer to great museums and concert halls

Recent Examples on the Web

But it was done with poetry, with a delicate, thoughtful approach, with coherence and refinement. — Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, "The Festival d’Hyères’s Top Prize Goes to a Young Austrian Whose Focus Is Upcycling," 29 Apr. 2019 Sophisticated yet whimsical, his creations, which often reference the natural world, exude refinement without veering into preciousness. — Stephen Wallis, Town & Country, "This Polar Bear Sofa Is Beloved By the Very Rich," 15 Apr. 2019 The car is a progression and refinement of the concepts developed during the 2017 season. — Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle, "Alta Mesa Resources, Entech Civil Engineers expand Energy Corridor offices," 18 May 2018 Timeless refinement has its place, but Kunis has a playful and down to earth side, too. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Mila Kunis’s Audrey Hepburn-Esque New Look Is Just Right," 3 Aug. 2018 For an exchange like Nasdaq, such refinement is essential to accurately order the millions of stock trades that are placed on their computer systems every second. — John Markoff, New York Times, "Time Split to the Nanosecond Is Precisely What Wall Street Wants," 29 June 2018 Pared down yet rich, with contrasting textures, Shladovsky's nine-piece collection marries of-the-moment rusticity with timeless refinement. — Elle Decor Staff, ELLE Decor, "Natural Wonders: Azadeh Shladovsky's Furniture Collection," 10 May 2012 The new Paperwhite, like the other Kindles before it, is the latest refinement of a formula that Amazon has been iterating on for more than half a decade now. — Chaim Gartenberg, The Verge, "Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018) review: the new best-seller," 7 Nov. 2018 In Your Spirit: This month’s Moon cycle activates your zones of self-expression and self-refinement, and there’s a potent mixing of earth and fire energy available to you right now. — Bess Matassa, Teen Vogue, "Monthly Lovescopes September 2018," 1 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refinement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.