polished
Americanadjective
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made smooth and glossy.
a figurine of polished mahogany.
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naturally smooth and glossy.
polished pebbles on the beach.
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refined, cultured, or elegant.
a polished manner.
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flawless; skillful; excellent.
a polished conversationalist.
adjective
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accomplished
a polished actor
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impeccably or professionally done
a polished performance
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(of rice) having had the outer husk removed by milling
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of polished
First recorded in 1325–75, polished is from the Middle English word polist. See polish, -ed 2
Explanation
Something that's polished has been perfected — either by being rubbed until it's shiny or practiced until it appears skilled and elegant. A polished diamond is bright, with a smooth, shining surface that reflects light. For an object to be polished, someone has to polish it, rubbing and buffing until it shines. You can also have a figuratively polished version of your essay that's been spruced up through careful editing. If a person is polished, they're graceful or accomplished: "Her polished style of speaking was almost intimidating!"
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Today, a student’s polished literature review or annotated bibliography alone can no longer demonstrate understanding to the professor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
“I want to become a better version of me. Not the polished version I show the world ... the actual one,” he wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
A green velvet sofa that the actress brought with her from a previous home adds a splash of color to the otherwise polished space.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
There’s Olive, 12, from Charlotte, North Carolina, whose goal is to sell 8,000 boxes and who already possesses the polished ease of someone who understands how to speak to an audience.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
He polished his pince-nez and fixed them to the end of his hairy snout.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
