adj
Uncommon
cultivated
KUHL-tih-vay-tihd
Cultivated (adj) means Well-educated and refined in manner or taste. Example: “He had a cultivated way of speaking about art.”
adj
1
Well-educated and refined in manner or taste.
"Attractive, cultivated GWM seeks to share love of music, literature, good times with same."
— , Personal advertisement (1976)
"He had a cultivated way of speaking about art."
"She was a cultivated woman who enjoyed opera, poetry and quiet conversation."
"His cultivated manners made him a pleasant guest at any dinner table."
2
Grown intentionally by farming, as opposed to growing wild.
"These cultivated berries are much sweeter than the wild ones."
"Cultivated mushrooms are sold in most supermarkets all year round."
"Unlike the wild herbs on the hillside, these cultivated plants were sown in neat rows."
How to use cultivated
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "refined and cultured" (for a person) or "deliberately grown" (for a plant/land).
Common pairings
cultivated taste
cultivated field
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more cultivated
- Superlative
- most cultivated
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He had a _____ way of speaking about art.
Synonyms
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refined
polished
sophisticated
well-bred
domesticated
farmed
polite
genteel
cultured
civilised
civilized
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cultivated
See all rhymes for cultivated →Frequently asked questions
What does “cultivated” mean?
The word “cultivated” means well-educated and refined in manner or taste. In plain terms, either "refined and cultured" (for a person) or "deliberately grown" (for a plant/land).
How do you pronounce “cultivated”?
“Cultivated” is pronounced KUHL-tih-vay-tihd (/ˈkʌltɪveɪtɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “cultivated” in a sentence?
Here is “cultivated” used in a sentence: “He had a cultivated way of speaking about art.”
What part of speech is “cultivated”?
“Cultivated” is an adjective.
Is “cultivated” a common word?
“Cultivated” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cultivated” have?
“Cultivated” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: well-educated and refined in manner or taste.
What is the difference between the two meanings of cultivated?
When describing a person, cultivated means well-educated and refined in manner or taste, as in "a cultivated speaker." When describing a plant, cultivated means grown intentionally by farming rather than occurring wild, as in "cultivated mushrooms."
Can cultivated be used to describe someone's manners?
Yes, cultivated commonly describes a person's refined manners, tastes, or education, often implying they have deliberately developed sophistication over time. It is similar to calling someone polished or well-bred.
What is the difference between cultivated and wild when describing plants?
Cultivated plants are grown intentionally by farming or gardening, with human care shaping their growth, whereas wild plants grow naturally without deliberate cultivation. This distinction is common in botany, agriculture, and cooking contexts.
