noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ɹəˈfaɪnmənt/
/ɹɪˈfaɪnmənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪnmənt
CMU ARPABET:R AH0 F AY1 N M AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
High-class style; cultivation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A fine or subtle distinction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A luxury.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Synonym of grooming (“review and prioritization process”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
the process of removing impurities (as from oil or metals or sugar etc.)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: refining, purification
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: processing
Narrower terms: rectification
10
noun
Meaning 10
a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality--Joseph Conrad
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
they performed with great polish
I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose
almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: polish, culture, cultivation, finish
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: perfection, flawlessness, ne plus ultra
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English fine English refine Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English refinement From refine + -ment.
Across languages
Translations
67 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
تَكْرِير
(takrīr)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Bulgarian:
пречистване
(prečistvane)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Bulgarian:
рафиниране
(rafinirane)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Czech:
rafinace
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Dutch:
zuivering
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Finnish:
jalostus
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Finnish:
puhdistus
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Finnish:
jalostaminen
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Finnish:
puhdistaminen
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Galician:
refino
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
German:
Verbesserung
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
German:
Veredelung
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Hindi:
शोधन
(śodhan)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Hindi:
प्रसंस्करण
(prasanskaraṇ)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Japanese:
みやび
(miyabi)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Macedonian:
прочистување
(pročistuvanje)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Macedonian:
рафинирање
(rafiniranje)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Portuguese:
refino
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Romanian:
rafinare
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Romanian:
rafinaj
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Spanish:
refinación
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Swedish:
förfining
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Turkish:
arıtma
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Turkish:
arıtım
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Turkish:
düzeltme
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Turkish:
tasfiye
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Turkish:
temizleme
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Ottoman Turkish:
تصفیه
(tasfiye)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
Ottoman Turkish:
قال
(kal)
— act, or the result of refining; the removal of impurities, or a purified material
