polish

1 of 5

verb

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

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 5

noun (1)

1
a
: a smooth glossy surface : luster
b
somewhat old-fashioned : freedom from rudeness or coarseness : culture
c
: a state of high development or refinement
The movie has the polish we've come to expect from that director.
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 5

adjective

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

Polish

4 of 5

noun (2)

: the Slavic language of the Poles

polisher

5 of 5

noun (3)

pol·​ish·​er
-shə(r)
plural -s
: one that polishes: such as
a
: a worker who polishes an article by hand or by machine to give it a clean smooth and usually glossy finish
b
: a bookbinder's hand tool used hot to polish leathers, crush down leather grains, and eliminate blisters on cloth covers

Synonyms of polish

Relevance

Verb

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
This sleeveless maxi is polished, but still has a relaxed and breathable fit that’s ideal for warm days. — Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 After you're done buffing, use a laminate floor cleaner to clean and polish your floor. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
Noun
The basics focus on shaping, cleanup, hydration and polish that lasts. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 Professional pumps and smart jewelry add an extra layer of polish for workplaces with slightly stricter dress codes. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 29 June 2026
Adjective
Caroline is played by Polish actress Dominika Zawada and Miguel is Luis Rizo. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026 Just four months before her death, Queen Elizabeth sat for a portrait by the Polish-British artist Basia Kaczmarowska-Hamilton. — Helen Murphy, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
Comfort plus polish is the sweet spot for me. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025 Sexy is in the power suit with sharp shoulders, in the statement coat that takes over a sidewalk, in the monochrome look that speaks polish. — Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 18 Aug. 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

Phrases Containing polish

Rhymes for polish

See All Rhymes for polish

Browse Nearby Words

poli-sci
polish
Polish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

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