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unrefined

[uhn-ri-fahynd]
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adjective
  1. not refined; not purified, as substances: unrefined metal.
  2. coarse or crude; lacking in refinement of taste, feeling, manners, language, etc.
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Origin of unrefined

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

Synonyms

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1. unpurified, crude, coarse. 2. unpolished, uncultured, ill-bred, rude, boorish, vulgar, gross.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

crudecoarserudeuncouthunpolishedbarbaricboorishcrassearthygrossinelegantprimitiverawroughuncivilizeduncultivatedunculturedunsophisticatedvulgarbrutish

Examples from the Web for unrefined

Historical Examples

  • Altogether there was something about him 18 that struck Maya as unrefined.

    The Adventures of Maya the Bee

    Waldemar Bonsels

  • Those of his kindred with whom you will associate are unrefined and mean.

    My Novel, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • To be sure, Mrs. Goodenough was a commonplace, unrefined woman.

    Wives and Daughters

    Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

  • Plain and unrefined as Mrs. Strong was, she had a good, generous heart.

    Kathie's Soldiers

    Amanda Minnie Douglas

  • Their taste is unrefined, but they are inclined to respect grace and dignity.

British Dictionary definitions for unrefined

unrefined

adjective
  1. (of substances such as petroleum, ores, and sugar) not processed into a pure or usable form
  2. coarse in manners or language
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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

Word Origin and History for unrefined

adj.

1590s, "not refined in manners," from un- (1) "not" + past participle of refine (v.). Meaning "not free from gross matter" is recorded from 1610s.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper