so·phis·ti·cate
sÉ™-ˈfi-stÉ™-ËŒkÄt 
sophisticated; sophisticating
1
: to alter deceptively
especially
: adulterate
2
: to deprive of genuineness, naturalness, or simplicity
especially
: to deprive of naïveté and make worldly-wise : disillusion
3
: to make complicated or complex
so·phis·ti·cate
sə-ˈfi-sti-kət
-stÉ™-ËŒkÄt
-stÉ™-ËŒkÄt
: a sophisticated person
Examples of sophisticate in a Sentence
Verb
there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity
vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup
Noun
sophisticates laughing at people they thought of as hicks
Recent Examples on the Web
Christian Dameff, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
The silk weave and striped pattern are sophisticated in a bohemian kind of way.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Heartland churchgoers, urban sophisticates, football neophytes—everyone got swept up in his will to win.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sophisticate
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Verb
Artificial intelligence and the expansion of remote and virtual care mean that malicious hackers have sophisticated new tools and increased opportunities to target hospitals.
—Christian Dameff, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
The silk weave and striped pattern are sophisticated in a bohemian kind of way.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
The novel was adapted into a 1965 film, with Caine in a star-making performance as Deighton’s protagonist, a sardonic working-class sophisticate with a love of gourmet food.
—Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Heartland churchgoers, urban sophisticates, football neophytes—everyone got swept up in his will to win.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sophisticate
Cite this Entry
“Sophisticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sophisticate. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sophisticate
1 of 2 verb
so·phis·ti·cate
sÉ™-ˈfis-tÉ™-ËŒkÄt
sophisticated; sophisticating
: to cause to become sophisticated
sophistication
noun
-ËŒfis-tÉ™-ˈkÄ-shÉ™n
sophisticate
2 of 2 noun
so·phis·ti·cate
sə-ˈfis-ti-kət
-tÉ™-ËŒkÄt
: a sophisticated person
Medical Definition
sophisticate
transitive verb
so·phis·ti·cate
sÉ™-ˈfis-tÉ™-ËŒkÄt
sophisticated; sophisticating
: to make impure : adulterate
a sophisticated oil
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