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

: lewd, unchaste

d

: ritually unclean

impurely adverb

impureness noun

Synonyms

• adulterate
• adulterated
• alloyed
• contaminated
• dilute
• diluted
• polluted
• tainted
• thinned
• weakened

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

The more obvious one, given those titular peepers, is that Mizu had a white father, rendering her an impure monster to her countrymen. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2023

Instead of making the cleansing of impure spirits the exclusive domain of a shadowy arm of the Church that answers to the Vatican, the movie throws in Pentecostal holy rollers, spiritual healing methods and folk medicine rooted in African culture and — God save us — the power of group solidarity. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Some of the common problems can include: Customs issues due to poor packaging and labeling Receiving a contaminated or impure product Mistakes with dosing due to defective capsules or unclear instructions Mix-ups with the form of phenibut provided No product arriving at all! —The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2023

Hoffmann improved on earlier work of French chemist Charles Frederic Gerhardt, who derived acetylsalicylic acid from plants, but only in an impure, unstable form. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023

However, this growing demand has led to an influx of impure products on the market. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2023

At the local pub in Innisfree, Squire Danaher (played by Victor McLaglen) confronts Wayne (the American, Sean Thornton, returned to his place of birth) and infers the Duke has impure thoughts about Danaher’s sister, Mary Kate, played by Maureen O’Hara. —Jack Fowler, National Review, 18 June 2023

Elsa Laurenzi, who has written about Rome’s Jewish catacombs, notes that Jews did not come to catacombs to pray, considering burial grounds impure. —David Laskin Martin Pauer, New York Times, 1 May 2023

This does not mean that your partner enabling your dreams through their money makes your relationship impure. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 7 May 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin impurus, from in- + purus pure

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

impure

adjective

im·​pure (ˈ)im-ˈpyu̇(ə)r 

1

: not pure : unclean, dirty

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