refinement
noun
re·fine·ment
ri-ˈfīn-mənt 
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
As far as whether more will be done in the coming races, no one has closed the door on any further refinements.
—
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 12 May 2026
For that audience, which industry data suggests now numbers in the hundreds of millions of social-media creators worldwide, the combination of real-time guidance, aesthetic personalities, and one-tap refinement speaks to a gap that many native camera apps still do not fully address.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Pall Mall has always understood ritual and refinement.
—Ken Silverio, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Achieving all of these goals simultaneously requires years of testing and refinement.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for refinement
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.
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 12 May 2026
For that audience, which industry data suggests now numbers in the hundreds of millions of social-media creators worldwide, the combination of real-time guidance, aesthetic personalities, and one-tap refinement speaks to a gap that many native camera apps still do not fully address.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Pall Mall has always understood ritual and refinement.
—Ken Silverio, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Achieving all of these goals simultaneously requires years of testing and refinement.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for refinement
Cite this Entry
“Refinement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refinement. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refinement
noun
re·fine·ment
ri-ˈfīn-mənt
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
