polish

1 of 4

verb

pol·​ish ˈpä-lish 

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 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish

Polish

4 of 4

noun (2)

: the Slavic language of the Poles

Synonyms

Verb

• buff
• burnish
• dress
• furbish
• gloss
• grind
• rub
• shine
• smooth
• smoothen

Noun (1)

• accomplishment
• civilization
• couth
• cultivation
• culture
• refinement

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

Verb

To complete the monochrome picture, which was styled by Annabelle Harron, Oprah polished things off with a pair of boots from the brand worn by Julia Roberts and her niece Emma Roberts, along with Selena Gomez and Katie Holmes. —Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024

Behrends completes his process by polishing and buffing the sculpture before attaching it to the trophy. —Bruce Martin, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

Noun

Now, Gomez is reinterpreting the trend for winter and thereby breaking the stereotype that a December polish must be some iteration of red or burgundy. —Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024

The high-gloss polish used as the final touch on each sculpture not only evokes the finish of automotive surfaces but also traditional Japanese lacquerware crafts. —Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 27 Nov. 2024

Adjective

French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met December 12 to discuss the possibility of western troops serving as peacekeepers in Ukraine. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

A la carte items available to order include roast beef in gravy, beef tips, baked ham, roast chicken, uncooked Polish sausage, cooked stuffed chicken breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, macaroni and cheese, corn and rolls. —Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing polish

• apple-polish
• French polish
• nail polish
• polish off
• spit and polish
• take a high polish
• to a polish

Kids Definition

polish

1 of 4 verb

pol·​ish ˈpäl-ish 

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 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish

Polish

4 of 4 noun

: the Slavic language of the Poles