The refurbished meaning is "restored to good condition after use or damage": an item has been inspected, repaired where needed, cleaned and tested so that it works properly again. A refurbished laptop might have had a new battery and keyboard fitted, then been wiped and reset before going back on sale.
The word is just as common for places. A refurbished hotel, school or office has been redecorated and updated, with new paint, furniture or wiring, without being knocked down and rebuilt.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Fixed up, cleaned and restored to working or attractive conditionPart of speech
Adjective; also past tense and past participle of refurbishPronunciation
ree-FUR-bishtWord forms
refurbish (verb), refurbishment (noun), refurb (informal noun)Origin
re- (again) + furbish (to polish), first recorded in the 1610sClose words
renovated, reconditioned, restored, revampedOpposite
brand-new; also run-down, worn-out
Refurbished meaning in two settings
- Products. Phones, laptops, cameras, appliances and tools that were returned, used or found faulty, then repaired and tested for resale. They are sold for less than new ones, usually with some form of warranty.
- Buildings and rooms. Spaces that have been brightened and updated: "The library reopens next month after being refurbished." Here the word overlaps with renovated.
Either way, the core meaning of refurbished, and the refurbished definition you will find on product pages, is the same: not new, but brought back to good shape.
Example sentences
- I bought a refurbished phone for my mother, and she cannot tell it from a new one.
- The railway station waiting room was refurbished with cushioned seats and charging points.
- Is this washing machine new or refurbished? The box looks opened.
- The company refurbishes old office chairs instead of throwing them away.
- After the refurbishment, the theater had better sound and wider aisles.
Refurbished vs used, renewed and open box
| Label | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Refurbished | Inspected, repaired if needed, cleaned and tested before resale |
| Manufacturer refurbished | Restored by the original maker, often with genuine parts and a longer warranty |
| Seller refurbished | Restored by a third-party shop; quality varies |
| Used or pre-owned | Sold as it is, possibly without any repair or testing |
| Open box | Opened or returned but barely used; may not have been repaired at all |
| Renewed or reconditioned | Shop labels that are often used like refurbished |
These terms are not used the same way by every seller, so read the listing. Grades such as "excellent," "good" or "fair" describe scratches and wear, not how well the item works.
Where the word comes from
Refurbish turns up in English in the 1610s, meaning to polish something up again. It joins re-, again, to furbish, an older verb meaning to rub or scour until bright. Furbish came from Old French forbir, which had a Germanic source. So a refurbished phone is, word for word, one that has been polished again, though today the work is far more than polishing.
Grammar and useful phrases
Refurbished works as an adjective (a refurbished printer) and as a verb form (they refurbished the clinic). The noun for the process is refurbishment, a word heard often in the UK and India: "The hall is closed for refurbishment." In casual talk, people shorten it to refurb, as in "I got a refurb tablet," which is fine in chat but too informal for a report.
Natural pairings: fully refurbished, certified refurbished, recently refurbished, refurbished units, refurbished interiors.
Tips if you are buying refurbished
- Check who did the work: the maker, the shop or an unknown reseller.
- Look for a written warranty and a clear return window.
- Ask whether the battery was replaced or tested, especially on phones and laptops.
- Compare the price with a new model on sale; sometimes the gap is small.
Buying refurbished can be a frugal and lower-waste choice that stretches a budget. If you like older things for their charm rather than their price, the word you may want is vintage. Other handy shopping and home words appear under everyday vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
What does refurbished mean when buying a phone?
It means the phone was used or returned, then checked, repaired if needed, cleaned and tested before being sold again. It should work like a new phone, though it may show light marks.
Is refurbished the same as used?
Not exactly. A used item is sold as it is. A refurbished item has been inspected and restored first, and it usually comes with a warranty.
Is refurbished as good as new?
It can be close, especially when the maker did the work. But parts like batteries may be older, and quality depends on who refurbished it, so read the warranty.
How do you pronounce refurbished?
Say ree-FUR-bisht. The stress falls on the middle syllable, and the ending sounds like "bisht."
What is a refurbished building?
A building that has been updated and repaired inside, such as new floors, paint, lighting or furniture, while keeping the same structure.
What is the noun of refurbished?
Refurbishment. You might read that a museum is "closed for refurbishment" or that a hotel finished a full refurbishment.