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Synonyms

cultivated

American  
[kuhl-tuh-vay-tid] / ˈkʌl təˌveɪ tɪd /

adjective

  1. An image of the word cultivated as defined by prepared and used for raising crops; tilled.

    prepared and used for raising crops; tilled.

    cultivated land.

  2. produced or improved by cultivation, as a plant.

  3. educated; refined; cultured.

    cultivated tastes.


cultivated British  
/ ˈkʌltɪˌveɪtɪd /

adjective

  1. cultured, refined, or educated

    1. subjected to tillage or cultivation

    2. tilled and broken up

  2. (of plants) specially bred or improved by cultivation

"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


Etymology

Origin of cultivated

First recorded in 1655–65; cultivate + -ed 2


Explanation

The adjective cultivated is used to describe someone who is polite and civilized. The cultivated people at the party would be very offended by crude behavior. Someone who's cultivated is knowledgeable or at least familiar with the arts, current events, history. He or she probably has traveled widely, or at least has read about other people and places. In other words, a cultivated person is a citizen of the world. As it applies to farming, cultivated soil is tilled, or churned, to prepare it for planting.

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Vocabulary lists containing cultivated

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.

See Examples For:

But Pope Leo's close ties to the world's most Catholic continent, cultivated over long years as a missionary and then archbishop in Peru, helped smooth the transition, she said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

His instantly recognisable power suit and red tie, ever-present in film and reality TV, were cultivated even before he moved into the White House.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Sand has long cultivated a moderate image and played up pursuits like his love of hunting and predilection for gas station breakfast pizza.

From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2026

Bankers and investors have cultivated relationships with the kingdom to secure capital for artificial-intelligence ventures and private equity, while helping Saudi Arabia raise money for the crown prince’s transformation plans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

I want to tell him the seeds for those plants were meant to be cultivated on Sagan.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

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