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
- unpolished adjective
- well-polished adjective
Etymology
Origin of polished
First recorded in 1325–75, polished is from the Middle English word polist. See polish, -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.
Bees, however, often coat their nests with a waxy secretion that creates a waterproof, polished interior.
From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026
Service was polished, the vibe felt spot-on, and yes, everything was genuinely excellent.
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026
They keep a disciplined, grueling schedule, turning out polished, deftly produced episodes 52 weeks a year.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
Titled Eins, Zwei, Drei, it's an overstuffed sandwich of a song - full of chanted hooks and crunchy keyboards that deliberately avoids the polished pop of previous entries.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026
The only untoward incident he had was that someone once stepped on his newly polished shoes—on purpose, he said.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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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.