cultured
KUL-cherd
/ˈkʌltʃəd/
Characterized by refined taste and manners, showing good education and appreciation of arts.
Implies active engagement with literature, fine art, music, and intellectual pursuits.
The story behind the word. Just as soil must be tilled and cultivated to bear rich fruit, human minds were metaphorically 'cultivated' through study and art to produce a cultured person.
Word relationships
- erudite: Erudite focuses on deep academic book learning, while cultured covers broader artistic and refined tastes.
- uncouth: Uncouth implies lacking manners and refinement.
Commonly confused with
- cultivated: Cultivated can describe crops or personalities, whereas cultured focuses strictly on artistic/intellectual polish.
Word family
- culture (noun): Arts and intellectual achievements collectively.
Collocations
- cultured voice
- cultured individual
- cultured accent
Example sentences
- "She grew up in a cultured household where classic literature and classical music were daily topics." Biography
Memory hook
Think of a plant grown with gentle care until it blooms into culture. Mind cultivated like a garden.
When not to use
Avoid using it simply for someone who is polite; it requires artistic or intellectual breadth.
Fun facts
- The metaphor of 'cultivating' human minds dates back to Cicero's phrase 'cultura animi' (agriculture of the soul).
Explore more words
urbane, intellectual, epicurean, connoisseur, delicacy, elegant
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