refinement

noun

re·​fine·​ment ri-ˈfīn-mənt How to pronounce refinement (audio)
1
: the action or process of refining
2
: the quality or state of being refined : cultivation
3
a
: a refined feature or method
b
: a highly refined distinction : subtlety
c
: a contrivance or device intended to improve or perfect

Examples of refinement in a Sentence

the recent refinements in this area of medical technology had a sense of refinement that her small hometown couldn't satisfy, so she moved to New York City to be closer to great museums and concert halls
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This human-machine collaboration involves an extensive back and forth, along with careful editing and refinement, a process that can take weeks. Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 The bespectacled, bookish Bonhoeffer was a man of refinement whose natural reserve could be interpreted as arrogance, says Marsh, the biographer. John Blake, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025 This has raised concerns about his readiness for the main roster, as while his overall appeal is undeniable, his technical wrestling skills may need further refinement. Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025 Its current nonlinearity strength, while modest, can potentially be increased by a factor of ten or even one hundred through further engineering refinements, say Yanagimoto and colleagues. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for refinement

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of refinement was circa 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refinement. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

refinement

noun
re·​fine·​ment ri-ˈfīn-mənt How to pronounce refinement (audio)
1
: the action or process of refining
2
: the state of being refined : cultivation
3
a
: something that has been refined
refinements in dress and behavior
b
: something intended to improve or refine

More from Merriam-Webster on refinement

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