sophistication
- 01 C2 Proficiency
the act of making something less pure by adding other substances.
the act of corrupting or debasing something, particularly through the addition of inferior ingredients.
Simple“The sophistication of the wine with cheaper grape juice was a scandal.”
In context“The chemist detected the sophistication of the honey, proving that corn syrup had been added to increase the volume.”
UsageIn modern English, this sense is almost entirely replaced by 'adulteration' or 'contamination'.
SynonymsAntonyms
“The arrests highlighted the growing sophistication of transnational wildlife trafficking networks and reinforced "the importance of co-ordinated, intelligence-led law enforcement efforts", the DFFE said.”
“Their direct, attacking approach will be riskier against opponents who possess the pace, quality and tactical sophistication to punish a rushed pass or a risky vertical ball.”
From Middle English sophisticacion, sophisticacioun, sophisticacoun, from Old French sofisticacion, sophisticacion, from Medieval Latin sophisticātiōnis. By surface analysis, sophisticate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.