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Synonyms

polished

American  
[pol-isht] / ˈpɒl ɪʃt /

adjective

  1. made smooth and glossy.

    a figurine of polished mahogany.

  2. naturally smooth and glossy.

    polished pebbles on the beach.

  3. refined, cultured, or elegant.

    a polished manner.

  4. flawless; skillful; excellent.

    a polished conversationalist.


polished British  
/ ˈpɒlɪʃt /

adjective

  1. accomplished

    a polished actor

  2. impeccably or professionally done

    a polished performance

  3. (of rice) having had the outer husk removed by milling

"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

  • 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