unrefined
When describing materials like oil or sugar, 'unrefined' is a neutral technical term meaning the product is in its natural state. When describing people or their behavior, 'unrefined' can be slightly critical or negative. It suggests that someone lacks social grace or formal education.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon, Jessica is staring at a messy spreadsheet Mark sent over.
Jessica
Mark, these notes are way too unrefined for the client. Fix them.
Mark
Chill out, Jess. I'll touch them up later.
💡
Jessica uses 'unrefined' to describe Mark's crude and unpolished work quality. Mark responds with the phrasal verb 'touch up', meaning to make small improvements to something.
Meanings
adjective
Not processed or purified by a refining process to remove impurities.
"The company specializes in the production of unrefined coconut oil."
adjective
Lacking polish, elegance, or cultured manners; crude.
"His unrefined manner of speaking often offended the more aristocratic guests at the party."