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Synonyms

cultured

American  
[kuhl-cherd] / ˈkʌl tʃərd /

adjective

  1. having or characterized by culture; refined; enlightened.

    civilized and cultured peoples; music and other cultured pursuits.
    Synonyms:
    genteel, elegant, sophisticated, polished

  2. artificially nurtured or grown.

    cultured bacteria.

  3. cultivated; tilled.

cultured British  
/ ˈkʌltʃəd /

adjective

  1. showing or having good taste, manners, upbringing, and education

  2. artificially grown or synthesized

    cultured pearls

  3. sport of superior quality, as though the product of special training

    a cultured left foot

    a cultured backhand
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • noncultured adjective
  • overcultured adjective
  • semicultured adjective
  • well-cultured adjective

Etymology

Origin of cultured

First recorded in 1550–745; culture + -ed 2

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.

The French brasserie with paper-thin radishes, good cultured butter and a pinch of flaky salt.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

Next, the expanded cells were cultured with OP9 feeder cells to create artificial hematopoietic organoid aggregates, structures that support efficient NK lineage commitment and development.

From Science Daily • Feb. 17, 2026

Someone instructs you to tear off pieces and dip them in the accompanying guava and plantain chutneys, silky chickpea curry and punchy pepper jelly, pooled around a peninsula of tangy cultured butter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Are you watching a more cultured, possession-based style now than you did 10 or 20 years ago - or are you watching your team play without the drive and commitment of years gone by?

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2025

Her words were cultured, exquisite in her mouth, clipped and close and precise.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

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.