impure
adjective
im·pure
(ˌ)im-ˈpyu̇r 
: not pure: such as
a
: containing something unclean : foul
impure water
b
: mixed or impregnated with an extraneous and usually unwanted substance
an impure chemical
c
: sexual in a way that is considered morally wrong
having impure thoughts
d
: ritually unclean : having been defiled
impurely
adverb
impureness
noun
Examples of impure in a Sentence
be careful, because impure motor oil can damage your car's engine
Victorian notions of what qualified as impure art now strike us as laughable.
Recent Examples on the Web
France has Europe’s largest population of Muslims, over 6 million, for whom pigs are considered impure.
—
Reuters, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Even the most natural parts of many women’s lives — such as menstruation, clothing or even breastfeeding — can be framed as being impure or as moral transgressions.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
This method combines impure raw silicon with pure aluminum, lowering the melting temperature compared to conventional polysilicon production.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2025
Water was often impure, too, especially with the war going on.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impure
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Reuters, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Even the most natural parts of many women’s lives — such as menstruation, clothing or even breastfeeding — can be framed as being impure or as moral transgressions.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
This method combines impure raw silicon with pure aluminum, lowering the melting temperature compared to conventional polysilicon production.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2025
Water was often impure, too, especially with the war going on.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impure
Cite this Entry
“Impure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impure. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impure
adjective
im·pure
(ˈ)im-ˈpyu̇(ə)r
2
: mixed with something else that is usually not as good
an impure chemical
impurely
adverb
Medical Definition
impure
adjective
im·pure
(ˈ)im-ˈpyu̇(ə)r
: not pure: as
a
: containing something unclean
impure water
b
: mixed or impregnated with an extraneous and usually unwanted substance : adulterated
an impure chemical
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share