# sophisticated

/səˈfɪstəˌkeɪtɪd/ (US) · /səfˈɪstɪkˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sophisticated
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. worldly and experienced

adjective · CEFR B2

having a lot of experience of the world and knowing about culture, fashion, and social situations.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. complex and advanced

adjective · CEFR B2

highly developed and complex, especially when talking about technology or systems.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. intellectually appealing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

showing a high level of skill or thought; appealing to people with good taste.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She has a very sophisticated taste in music.
- The new security system uses sophisticated software to identify faces even in low light conditions.
- While early models were rudimentary, the current generation of climate simulations employs sophisticated algorithms to account for thousands of variables simultaneously.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.