refined
rih-FYND
/rɪˈfaɪnd/
Food that has been processed to remove impurities or unwanted elements, often resulting in the loss of fiber and nutrients.
While 'refined' sounds like an improvement (like a 'refined' gentleman), in food it usually means the healthy parts have been stripped away.
The story behind the word. From the French 'raffiner,' meaning to make very fine. It implies a process of 'finishing' something over and over until only the most 'elegant' or 'pure' part remains.
Word relationships
- processed: Processed is broader; refined specifically means the removal of the 'coarse' parts of a food.
- unrefined: Unrefined food still contains its natural components, like brown sugar or whole wheat.
- coarse: Coarse refers to the rough, unpolished texture of natural foods.
Word family
- refine (verb): To remove impurities or unwanted elements from a substance.
- refinement (noun): The process of refining.
Collocations
- refined sugar
- refined flour
- refined grains
- highly refined
Example sentences
- "Refined grains have been significantly stripped of their fiber." Nutritional science. (Mayo Clinic)
- "White sugar is a highly refined product that contains almost no nutritional value beyond pure energy." The history of sugar.
Memory hook
To 'refine' is to 're-fine'—to make it 'fine' again and again until it's just white powder. Stripped to be fine.
When not to use
Don't use this for adding things; it's specifically about taking things away to make a product 'purer' or 'finer.'
Fun facts
- Refined white flour was once a status symbol because only the wealthy could afford the expensive milling process.
Related words
Explore more words
refine, polished, clarify, adulteration, genteel, contamination
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