unrefined

American  

[uhn-ri-fahynd] / ˌʌn rɪˈfaɪnd /

adjective

1. not refined; refined; not purified, as substances.

   unrefined metal.

   Synonyms:

   coarse, crude, unpurified

2. coarse or crude; lacking in refinement of taste, feeling, manners, language, etc.

   Synonyms:

   gross, vulgar, boorish, rude, ill-bred, uncultured, unpolished

---

unrefined British  

/ ˌʌnrɪˈfaɪnd /

adjective

1. (of substances such as petroleum, ores, and sugar) not processed into a pure or usable form

2. coarse in manners or language

---

Etymology

Origin of unrefined

First recorded in 1585–95; un- ¹ + refined

Example Sentences

Bereaved families were concerned about the delay and the possibility of appointing a chair who used an "untested and unrefined methodology", the letter said.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

Mr. Yasunaga, however, forms his creations out of glaze and other ornaments, then buries the objects in sand or unrefined clay to fire them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Previous research found that insects can ingest and absorb pure, unrefined microplastics -- but only under unrealistic, food-scarce situations.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2024

These are typically labeled as extra virgin, virgin, cold pressed or unrefined, depending on exactly how they were pressed.

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2024

Swart was a young man, and I explained to him that brown rice was the unrefined rice kernel, and we used to eat it during the war when white rice was unavailable.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela