impurity

noun

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im·pu·ri·ty | \ (ˌ)im-ˈpyu̇r-ə-tē

plural impurities

Definition of impurity

1 : something that is impure or makes something else impure removing impurities from water

2 : the quality or state of being impure

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Examples of impurity in a Sentence

the impurity of the water The syrup is strained to remove impurities. The water is free of impurities.

Recent Examples on the Web At its most basic function, an air filter removes impurities such as dust, pet dander or even bacteria from the air flowing through the system. — Stefanie Waldek, Washington Post, "What you need to know before buying an HVAC filter," 21 Jan. 2020 First, physical exfoliants are things like scrubs or brushes that physically remove those impurities. — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "7 Ways to Get Smoother Skin, According to Dermatologists," 17 Jan. 2020 For example, sugar manufacturers often use cow bone char to remove impurities from raw sugar. — Kevin Wheeler, USA TODAY, "Tired of turkey? Here's why you'll want to try a vegan Thanksgiving this year," 28 Nov. 2019 So, no giant, farmed, irrigated acreages of grain, no fermentation, and no complex distillation to remove impurities. — Tom Bentley, Popular Mechanics, "This Is the World's First Carbon-Negative Vodka," 7 Nov. 2019 Shrink them down to microscopic proportions by removing impurities with this double-duty face mask that clears up congestion while restoring radiance and suppleness. — Jennifer Ford, Essence, "The Compact," 10 Oct. 2019 According to Cho, double cleansing is also an effective way to remove impurities that can cause acne and premature aging. — Tara Gonzalez, Glamour, "I Finally Tried Double Cleansing, and My Skin Has Never Looked Better," 3 Oct. 2019 According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, black tar heroin is created with crude processing methods that leave behind impurities and give the drug its dark color. — Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, "Flesh-eating bacteria tied to black tar heroin use kills 7 in San Diego, health officials say," 5 Dec. 2019 The facial typically begins with a gentle steam to open pores and lift impurities, followed by a deep cleansing and exfoliation, and concludes with a therapeutic mask. — Rachel Marlowe, The Hollywood Reporter, "Is the Butt Facial the Must-Have Beauty Treatment of the Summer?," 16 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impurity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

30 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Impurity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impurity. Accessed 17 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for impurity

impurity

noun

English Language Learners Definition of impurity

: the quality or state of being impure

: an unwanted substance that is found in something else and that prevents it from being pure

See the full definition for impurity in the English Language Learners Dictionary

impurity

noun

im·pu·ri·ty | \ im-ˈpyu̇r-ə-tē

plural impurities

Kids Definition of impurity

1 : the quality or state of being impure

2 : something that is or makes something else impure Impurities in the gold were detected.

impurity

noun

im·pu·ri·ty | \ (ˈ)im-ˈpyu̇r-ət-ē

plural impurities

Medical Definition of impurity

: something that is impure or makes something else impure

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impurity

Definition of impurity

Synonyms for impurity

Examples of impurity in a Sentence

First Known Use of impurity

Learn More about impurity

Dictionary Entries near impurity

Statistics for impurity

English Language Learners Definition of impurity

Kids Definition of impurity