Word
sophisticated
Phoneticsso·phis·ti·cat·ed, stress on the second syllable
US/səˈfɪstəˌkeɪtɪd/
UK/səfˈɪstɪkˌeɪtɪd/
Definitions
01worldly and experienced
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having a lot of experience of the world and knowing about culture, fashion, and social situations.
adj. having obtained worldly experience and lacking naiveté; possessing refined tastes and social grace.
“She has become much more sophisticated since she moved to the city.”
“The audience was composed of sophisticated travellers who were unimpressed by the standard tourist attractions.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02complex and advanced
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. highly developed and complex, especially when talking about technology or systems.
adj. highly complex or developed in design, technique, or character; often applied to technology or intellectual arguments.
“The new security system uses sophisticated software to recognise faces.”
“Modern hackers use increasingly sophisticated methods to bypass even the most robust corporate firewalls.”
03intellectually appealing
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. showing a high level of skill or thought; appealing to people with good taste.
adj. appealing to the tastes of an intellectual or cultured person; refined and elegant in style.
“The film was praised for its sophisticated humour and clever writing.”
“The critic argued that the novel's sophisticated narrative structure was its greatest strength, though it might alienate casual readers.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sophisticated” in context.
Adjective
01. increasingly sophisticated
“Cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to steal personal data.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“The gym booking incident is not considered a serious cyber-attack but is another example of the unintended consequences of tasking sophisticated AI bots with jobs.” “Advances in computer technology mean that today’s Seti efforts are vastly more sophisticated than half a century ago, able to examine millions of radio channels from tens of thousands of galaxies.” Etymology
First English usage circa 1601. From Medieval Latin sophisticatus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/sophisticated