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unpolished
/ʌnˈpɒlɪʃt/
not refined or finished
The actor's unpolished performance improved with rehearsal.
The actor's rough, unrefined acting became smoother after practice.
general
not refined or finished; lacking sophistication or refinement
The manuscript was still unpolished but showed great potential.
The draft was rough and needed more editing but had promising ideas.
His unpolished manners made him seem awkward in formal settings.
His lack of social refinement was obvious in high-society gatherings.
Often describes skills, performances, or works that are raw or underdeveloped but have potential.
Engineering
technical
not smoothed or polished physically; rough to the touch
The metal surface was left unpolished for better adhesion of the coating.
The rough metal surface was intentionally left untreated to improve paint bonding.
In engineering, refers to surfaces that have not undergone smoothing or finishing processes.
Collocations
unpolished performancea raw or rough presentationunpolished skillsundeveloped abilitiesunpolished draftan early, rough version of a document
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoiding ambiguity
Use 'unpolished' to describe something that is intentionally left rough (e.g., 'an unpolished gem') or something that needs refinement (e.g., 'an unpolished presentation'). Context clarifies the meaning.
Gold Rule
Positive vs. negative tone
'Unpolished' can imply potential (positive) or lack of effort (negative). For example, 'an unpolished talent' suggests room for growth, while 'an unpolished speaker' may imply carelessness.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'unpolisshed', from Old English 'un-' (not) + 'polisshed' (polished), past participle of 'polisshen' (to polish), ultimately from Latin 'polire' (to polish).
Usage Notes
Commonly used to describe early-stage work, untrained skills, or socially awkward behavior. Can carry a neutral or slightly negative connotation depending on context.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixpolish
to make smooth or refined
root-ed
past participle suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary