What does sophisticated mean?
Word: Sophisticated
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Sophisticated means highly developed and complex, as a modern machine or system can be. It can also describe a person with fine, grown-up tastes.
Synonyms: complex, refined
Antonyms: simple, basic
How do you spell sophisticated?
Syllables: so - phis - ti - cat - ed
Tricky part: The f sound is spelt ph, as in phone. Sofisticated is the usual mistake.
Watch out for: sofisticated, sophisticatted
Memory tip: Link it to philosophy, another word from the Greek for wise: both spell their f sound with ph.
Sophisticated in a sentence
Example 1: The Apollo astronauts carried sophisticated cameras to photograph the Moon.
Example 2: My aunt has very sophisticated taste in music.
Example 3: The new hospital has sophisticated machines for scanning the brain.
Fun Fact
Sophisticated has changed its meaning a great deal. In the 1600s it meant mixed with something false or impure; only around 1900 did it come to mean refined, and later still it was used for complex machines and systems.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word sophisticated as used in the sentence:
The new metro line runs on a sophisticated signalling system that keeps trains a safe distance apart.
a) noisy
b) temporary
c) advanced
d) outdated
Show answer
c) advanced. A system that keeps trains safely apart is a highly developed, advanced one.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Scientists at the observatory in Ladakh use sophistocated telescopes to study stars that are millions of light years away.
a) sophistocated
b) observatory
c) telescopes
d) millions
Show answer
a) sophistocated. The middle is isti, with an i on each side of the st.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. fasinated 2. sophisticated 3. apreciated 4. dedecated
a) very interested and attracted
b) giving a lot of time and effort to something
c) valued and recognised by others
d) highly developed, or having refined tastes
Show answer
d) highly developed, or having refined tastes. Fascinated needs sc, appreciated a double p, and dedicated an i after the second d.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to find the right word:
My cousin's tsicoadhpetis robot can sort coloured blocks and even greet visitors by name.
a) philosophical
b) photographic
c) sophisticated
d) specifically
Show answer
c) sophisticated. The jumble has a d and only one p and one h, which rules out philosophical, specifically and photographic.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Of these, the most sophisticated machine is ____.
a) a garden broom
b) a paper boat
c) a wooden spoon
d) a weather satellite
Show answer
d) a weather satellite
2. Someone with sophisticated taste in food would most likely ____.
a) refuse anything they have not tasted
b) enjoy trying fine dishes from many cuisines
c) eat only plain rice every single day
d) choose whatever is cheapest on the menu
Show answer
b) enjoy trying fine dishes from many cuisines
