polish

1 of 4

verb

pol·​ish ˈpä-lish How to pronounce polish (audio)
polished; polishing; polishes

transitive verb

1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by friction : burnish
2
: to smooth, soften, or refine in manners or condition
3
: to bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state : perfect

intransitive verb

: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
polisher noun

polish

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: a smooth glossy surface : luster
b
: freedom from rudeness or coarseness : culture
c
: a state of high development or refinement
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a preparation that is used to produce a gloss and often a color for the protection and decoration of a surface
furniture polish
nail polish

Polish

3 of 4

adjective

Pol·​ish ˈpō-lish How to pronounce Polish (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish

Polish

4 of 4

noun (2)

: the Slavic language of the Poles

Examples of polish in a Sentence

Verb He spent the summer polishing his math skills. you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance Noun (1) I need more shoe polish. Did you use a wax polish on the table or an oil-based one? The movie has the polish we've come to expect from that director. He's rude and lacks polish.
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.
Verb
Instead of replacing her creativity, AI amplified it by providing structured and consistent feedback, giving her more time to polish her jokes. Jeanne Beatrix Law, The Conversation, 7 May 2025 Polish with Microfiber Cloth Use a microfiber cloth to polish the mirror after squeegeeing. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2025
Noun
During that time, horses can be taken for a walk, petted or given a makeover that includes glittery hoof polish and tail braiding. Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025 Even as a 19-year-old, his composure and technical polish on the ball in a struggling Southampton team had marked him out as the kind of press-resistant No 6 that every modern elite team wants. Liam Twomey, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Adjective
The finding took place during renovations to a statue of Tadeusz Kościuszko — an 18th century Polish statesman renowned for his role in a national uprising and the American Revolution — on the castle grounds, according to a news release from the museum. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025 Macron traveled to Kyiv with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Samya Kullab, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for polish

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English polisshen, from Anglo-French poliss-, stem of polir, from Latin polire

Adjective

Pole

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polish was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polish. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

polish

1 of 4 verb
pol·​ish ˈpäl-ish How to pronounce polish (audio)
1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by rubbing
2
: to smooth or improve in manners, condition, or style
3
: to bring to a highly developed or finished state
polish a technique
polisher noun

polish

2 of 4 noun
1
a
: a smooth glossy surface : luster
b
: good manners : refinement
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a substance prepared for use in polishing
shoe polish
nail polish

Polish

3 of 4 adjective
Pol·​ish ˈpō-lish How to pronounce Polish (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish

Polish

4 of 4 noun
: the Slavic language of the Poles

More from Merriam-Webster on polish

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