refinement

[ri-fahyn-muhnt]

noun

1. fineness or elegance of feeling, taste, manners, language, etc.

2. an instance of refined refined feeling, manners, etc.

3. the act or process of refining.

4. the quality or state of being refined. refined.

5. a subtle point or distinction.

6. subtle reasoning.

7. an improved, higher, or extreme form of something.

   a refinement of the old system.

8. Mathematics.,  a set whose elements include the elements of a given set.

refinement

/ rɪˈfaɪnmənt /

noun

1. the act of refining or the state of being refined

2. a fine or delicate point, distinction, or expression; a subtlety

3. fineness or precision of thought, expression, manners, etc; polish or cultivation

4. a device, change, adaptation, etc, designed to improve performance or increase efficiency

Other Word Forms

• nonrefinement noun
• prerefinement noun
• self-refinement noun
• superrefinement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of refinement¹

First recorded in 1605–15; refine + -ment

Example Sentences

After years of refinement, the most promising strain was chosen, and "Muscat Shiragai" was officially established as a new variety in 2024.

Read more on Science Daily

For Hunter, progress at the Toronto meeting would include concrete action on the issue of traceability -- tracking raw materials from mining to refinement and ensuring suppliers follow global market rules.

Read more on Barron's

A century or so later, as Mr. Roeck details, the Song dynasty flourished in China, supporting exquisite refinements in poetry and dress and stunning advances in commercial and industrial technology.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

By investing in joint extraction and refinement initiatives in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Washington could help the region build local processing capacity and ship refined materials westward through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Read more on Barron's

The method requires significant refinement - which could take a decade - before a fertility clinic could even consider using it.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• delicacy 
• dignity 
• elegance 
• erudition 
• finesse 
• grace 
• graciousness 
• nicety 
• nuance 
• precision 
• sophistication 
• subtlety 
• tact