A sophisticated machine, device, or method is more advanced or complex than others.
Honeybees use one of the most sophisticated communication systems of any insect.
...a large and sophisticated new British telescope.
Synonyms: complex, advanced, complicated, subtle More Synonyms of sophisticated
2. adjective
Someone who is sophisticated is comfortable in social situations and knows about culture, fashion, and other matters that are considered socially important.
Claude was a charming, sophisticated companion.
Recently her tastes have become more sophisticated.
Synonyms: cultured, refined, cultivated, worldly More Synonyms of sophisticated
3. adjective
A sophisticated person is intelligent and knows a lot, so that they are able to understand complicated situations.
These people are very sophisticated observers of the foreign policy scene.
Synonyms: cultured, intelligent More Synonyms of sophisticated
sophisticated in British English
(səˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd)
adjective
1.
having refined or cultured tastes and habits
2.
appealing to sophisticates
a sophisticated restaurant
3.
unduly refined or cultured
4.
pretentiously or superficially wise
5.
(of machines, methods, etc) complex and refined
Derived forms
sophisticatedly (soˈphistiˌcatedly)
adverb
sophisticated in American English
(səˈfɪstəˌkeɪtɪd)
adjective
1.
not simple, artless, naive, etc.; urbane, worldly-wise, etc. or knowledgeable, perceptive, subtle, etc.
2.
designed for or appealing to sophisticated people
3.
highly complex, refined, or developed; characterized by advanced form, technique, etc.
sophisticated equipment
Derived forms
sophisticatedly (soˈphistiˌcatedly)
adverb
Examples of 'sophisticated' in a sentence
sophisticated
Everything had hinted at a sophisticated attack on the Chunnel from the seabed.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT (2002)
Hyde Park Corner, however, was more sophisticated in terms of its merchandise than town had ever been.
Martin, Joy THE IMAGE OF LAURA (2002)
That didn't call for sophisticated orientation of the particles.
Michael Crichton PREY (2002)
In other languages
sophisticated
British English: sophisticated /səˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd/ ADJECTIVE
A sophisticated person is comfortable in social situations and knows about culture, fashion, and other matters that are considered socially important.
He was a charming, sophisticated companion.
American English: sophisticated
Arabic: مُتَطَوِّر
Brazilian Portuguese: sofisticado
Chinese: 老于世故的
Croatian: sofisticiran
Czech: kultivovaný člověk
Danish: sofistikeret
Dutch: wereldwijs
European Spanish: sofisticado
Finnish: hienostunut
French: sophistiqué
German: anspruchsvoll
Greek: εξεζητημένος
Italian: sofisticato
Japanese: 洗練された
Korean: 세련된
Norwegian: sofistikert
Polish: wyrafinowany
European Portuguese: sofisticado
Romanian: sofisticat
Russian: искушенный
Latin American Spanish: sofisticado
Swedish: sofistikerad
Thai: ที่ดูมีรสนิยมสูง
Turkish: rafine
Ukrainian: досвідчений у життєвих справах
Vietnamese: sành điệu
Chinese translation of 'sophisticated'
sophisticated
(səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd)
adj
[person]老于(於)世故的 (lǎo yú shìgù de)
[lifestyle, taste]高雅时(時)髦的 (gāoyǎ shímáo de)
[machinery, system]精密的 (jīngmì de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
(of machines or methods) complex and using advanced technology
a large and sophisticated new telescope
Synonyms
complex
in-depth coverage of today's complex issues
advanced
the most advanced optical telescope in the world
complicated
a complicated voting system
subtle
He is a subtle character, you know.
delicate
The colours are delicate and tasteful.
elaborate
a designer known for his elaborate costumes
refined
refined tastes
intricate
intricate patterns and motifs
multifaceted
highly-developed
Opposites
simple
,
basic
,
uncomplicated
,
unsophisticated
,
plain
,
old-fashioned
,
primitive
,
unrefined
,
unsubtle
2 (adjective)
Definition
intelligent, knowledgeable, or able to appreciate culture and the arts
Recently her tastes have become more sophisticated.
Synonyms
cultured
refined
His speech and manner are refined.
cultivated
His mother was an elegant, cultivated woman.
worldly
He was worldly and sophisticated, quite unlike me.
cosmopolitan
The family are rich, and extremely sophisticated and cosmopolitan.
urbane
In conversation, he was suave and urbane.
jet-set
world-weary
citified
worldly-wise
A more worldly-wise man would have seen through him at once.
Opposites
unsophisticated
,
unrefined
,
unworldly
,
naive
,
wet behind the ears (informal)
3 (adjective)
Definition
intelligent, knowledgeable, or able to appreciate culture and the arts
These people are very sophisticated observers of the foreign policy scene.
Synonyms
cultured
He is a cultured man with a wide circle of friends.
intelligent
Additional synonyms
in the sense of advanced
Definition
at a late stage in development
the most advanced optical telescope in the world
Synonyms
sophisticated,
foremost,
modern,
revolutionary,
up-to-date,
higher,
leading,
recent,
prime,
forward,
ahead,
supreme,
extreme,
principal,
progressive,
paramount,
state-of-the-art,
avant-garde,
precocious,
pre-eminent,
up-to-the-minute,
ahead of the times
in the sense of complicated
Definition
difficult to understand or deal with
a complicated voting system
Synonyms
complex,
involved,
elaborate,
intricate,
Byzantine
in the sense of cosmopolitan
Definition
sophisticated and cultured
The family are rich, and extremely sophisticated and cosmopolitan.
Synonyms
sophisticated,
worldly,
cultured,
refined,
cultivated,
urbane,
well-travelled,
worldly-wise
Synonyms of 'sophisticated'
sophisticated
Explore 'sophisticated' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cultivated
Definition
well-educated
His mother was an elegant, cultivated woman.
Synonyms
refined,
cultured,
advanced,
polished,
educated,
sophisticated,
accomplished,
discriminating,
enlightened,
discerning,
civilized,
genteel,
well-educated,
urbane,
erudite,
well-bred
in the sense of delicate
Definition
(of colour, smell, or taste) pleasantly subtle
The colours are delicate and tasteful.
Synonyms
subtle,
fine,
nice,
soft,
delicious,
faint,
refined,
muted,
subdued,
pastel,
understated,
dainty
in the sense of elaborate
Definition
having a very complicated design
a designer known for his elaborate costumes
Synonyms
ornate,
detailed,
involved,
complex,
fancy,
complicated,
decorated,
extravagant,
intricate,
baroque,
ornamented,
fussy,
embellished,
showy,
ostentatious,
florid
in the sense of intricate
Definition
full of complicated detail
intricate patterns and motifs
Synonyms
complicated,
involved,
complex,
difficult,
fancy,
sophisticated,
elaborate,
obscure,
tangled,
baroque,
perplexing,
tortuous,
Byzantine,
convoluted,
rococo,
knotty,
labyrinthine,
daedal (literary)
in the sense of refined
Definition
highly developed and effective
refined tastes
Synonyms
discerning,
fine,
nice,
sensitive,
exact,
subtle,
delicate,
precise,
discriminating,
sublime,
fastidious,
punctilious (formal)
in the sense of refined
Definition
cultured or polite
His speech and manner are refined.
Synonyms
cultured,
civil,
polished,
tasteful,
sophisticated,
gentlemanly,
elegant,
polite,
cultivated,
gracious,
civilized,
genteel,
urbane,
courtly,
well-bred,
ladylike,
well-mannered
in the sense of subtle
Definition
using shrewd and indirect methods to achieve an objective
He is a subtle character, you know.
Synonyms
crafty,
cunning,
sly,
designing,
scheming,
intriguing,
shrewd,
ingenious,
astute,
devious,
wily,
artful,
Machiavellian
in the sense of urbane
Definition
polite, elegant, and sophisticated in manner
In conversation, he was suave and urbane.
Synonyms
sophisticated,
cultured,
polished,
civil,
mannerly,
smooth,
elegant,
refined,
cultivated,
cosmopolitan,
civilized,
courteous,
suave,
well-bred,
debonair,
well-mannered
in the sense of worldly
Definition
wise in the ways of the world
He was worldly and sophisticated, quite unlike me.
Synonyms
worldly-wise,
knowing,
experienced,
politic,
sophisticated,
cosmopolitan,
urbane,
blasé,
well versed in the ways of the world
in the sense of worldly-wise
Definition
wise in the ways of the world
A more worldly-wise man would have seen through him at once.