# sophistication

/səˌfɪstəˈkeɪʃən/ (US) · /səfˌɪstɪkˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sophistication
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 3. adulteration

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

the act of making something less pure by adding other substances.

For teachers: the act of corrupting or debasing something, particularly through the addition of inferior ingredients.

- The sophistication of the wine with cheaper grape juice was a scandal.
- The chemist detected the sophistication of the honey, proving that corn syrup had been added to increase the volume.

Usage: In modern English, this sense is almost entirely replaced by 'adulteration' or 'contamination'.

## Examples

- Her style shows a high level of sophistication.
- The new security system offers a level of sophistication that makes it nearly impossible to hack.
- While the early prototypes were crude, the current model displays a technical sophistication that allows for precise adjustments in real-time without human intervention.

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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.