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adjective Uncommon

cultured

KUHLT-shuhd

Cultured (adjective) means Well-educated and refined in manner, taste, or knowledge of the arts. Example: “She grew up in a cultured household full of books and classical music.”

adjective
1
Well-educated and refined in manner, taste, or knowledge of the arts.
"She grew up in a cultured household full of books and classical music."
"He came across as cultured, quoting poetry over dinner."
2
Grown or produced under controlled conditions rather than occurring naturally.
"The necklace was made from cultured pearls, not wild ones."
"Cultured yogurt contains live bacteria added on purpose."

How to use cultured

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "refined and well-educated" (a cultured person) or "deliberately grown/produced" (a cultured pearl, cultured yogurt).

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "cultural" — cultural describes something relating to culture in general, while cultured describes a person's refinement or something grown under controlled conditions.

Common pairings
a cultured person cultured pearls cultured yogurt

Word forms

more cultured comparative, most cultured superlative

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She grew up in a _____ household full of books and classical music.

Related words

Rhymes for cultured

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Frequently asked questions

What does “cultured” mean?

The word “cultured” means well-educated and refined in manner, taste, or knowledge of the arts. In plain terms, either "refined and well-educated" (a cultured person) or "deliberately grown/produced" (a cultured pearl, cultured yogurt).

How do you pronounce “cultured”?

“Cultured” is pronounced KUHLT-shuhd (/ˈkʌlt͡ʃɚd/ in IPA).

How do you use “cultured” in a sentence?

Here is “cultured” used in a sentence: “She grew up in a cultured household full of books and classical music.”

What is another word for “cultured”?

Words with a similar meaning to “cultured” include cultivated.

What is the opposite of “cultured”?

The opposite of “cultured” — its antonyms — is uncultured.

What part of speech is “cultured”?

“Cultured” is an adjective.

Is “cultured” a common word?

“Cultured” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “cultured” have?

“Cultured” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: well-educated and refined in manner, taste, or knowledge of the arts.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial