cultured
Americanadjective
-
having or characterized by culture; refined; enlightened.
civilized and cultured peoples; music and other cultured pursuits.
- Synonyms:
- genteel, elegant, sophisticated, polished
-
artificially nurtured or grown.
cultured bacteria.
-
cultivated; tilled.
adjective
-
showing or having good taste, manners, upbringing, and education
-
artificially grown or synthesized
cultured pearls
-
sport of superior quality, as though the product of special training
a cultured left foot
a cultured backhand
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cultured
Explanation
A cultured person usually enjoys art, music, expensive restaurants, and other things considered fancy or educated. An old lady sipping tea with one pinkie sticking out, wearing a flowered hat, and listing to Brahms (the classical composer) would be many people's idea of someone cultured. A cultured person is also called refined, genteel, civilized, and cultivated. Cultured people have good manners and etiquette. However, being cultured is in the eye of the beholder, because there are so many different cultures in the world. It's difficult to be cultured in more than one culture.
Vocabulary lists containing cultured
The Secret Life of Bees
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Warriors Don't Cry (Abridged)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"America"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"They took bees back and growed them in the lab, they cultured all the pollen, the wax, and many, many things."
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
Maybe it’s a drizzle of special vinegar, a pat of cultured butter softening into gloss or a tangle of pickled vegetables with just enough bite.
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026
John Julius Norwich first saw Venice at the age of 16 in the company of his cultured father, who packed into their brief visit the distilled perspectives of decades.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026
Most CAG-170 bacteria cannot yet be cultured this way.
From Science Daily • Feb. 14, 2026
Monclova looked as beautiful and as cultured as any large city in the United States.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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.
