purify

[ pyoor-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, pu·ri·fied, pu·ri·fy·ing.

1. to make pure; free from anything that debases, pollutes, adulterates, or contaminates:

   to purify metals.

2. to free from foreign, extraneous, or objectionable elements:

   to purify a language.

3. to free from guilt or evil.
4. to clear or purge (usually followed by of or from ).
5. to make clean for ceremonial or ritual use.

verb (used without object)

, pu·ri·fied, pu·ri·fy·ing.

1. to become pure.

purify

/ ˈpjʊərɪˌfaɪ; ˈpjʊərɪfɪˌkeɪtərɪ /

verb

1. to free (something) of extraneous, contaminating, or debasing matter
2. tr to free (a person, etc) from sin or guilt
3. tr to make clean, as in a ritual, esp the churching of women after childbirth

Derived Forms

• purificatory, adjective
• ˌpurifiˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• pu·ri·fi·ca·tion [py, oo, r-, uh, -fi-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• pu·rif·i·ca·to·ry [py, oo, -, rif, -i-k, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
• pu·ri·fi·er noun
• non·pu·ri·fy·ing adjective
• re·pu·ri·fy verb repurified repurifying
• self-pu·ri·fy·ing adjective
• un·pu·ri·fied adjective
• un·pu·ri·fy·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of purify¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English purifien, from Middle French purifier, from Latin pūrificāre; pure, -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of purify¹

C14: from Old French purifier, from Late Latin pūrificāre to cleanse, from pūrus pure + facere to make

Example Sentences

In one such project, the city will soon begin building a $740-million facility to transform wastewater into purified drinking water in the San Fernando Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

With the new facility, which is scheduled to be finished in 2027, the city will for the first time start using purified recycled water as part of the drinking water supply.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump is personally promising to crush the “enemy within” and the “demonic” Democrats and “the Left” as he “purifies” the “blood” of the nation from the human vermin.

From Salon

Take Trump’s obsessions with good genes and bad genes and couple them with his remarks about “purifying the blood” of the nation by removing the human poison and other human vermin.

From Salon

In all, Trump wants to “purify” the “blood” of the nation by purging it of all “undesirables” – as defined by his corrupt personal standards and fascist political vision.

From Salon

Related Words

• rarefy