pure

adjective

\ ˈpyu̇r

purer; purest

Definition of pure

1a(1) : unmixed with any other matter pure gold

(2) : free from dust, dirt, or taint pure spring water

(3) : spotless, stainless

b : free from harshness or roughness and being in tune —used of a musical tone

c of a vowel : characterized by no appreciable alteration of articulation during utterance

2a : being thus and no other : sheer, unmitigated pure folly

b(1) : abstract, theoretical pure research

(2) : a priori pure mechanics

c : not directed toward exposition of reality or solution of practical problems pure literature

d : being nonobjective and to be appraised on formal and technical qualities only pure form

3a(1) : free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes

(2) : containing nothing that does not properly belong

b : free from moral fault or guilt

c : marked by chastity : continent

d(1) : of pure blood and unmixed ancestry

(2) : homozygous in and breeding true for one or more characters

e : ritually clean

4 : having exactly the talents or skills needed for a particular role a pure shooter in basketball

Other Words from pure Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about pure

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Choose the Right Synonym for pure

chaste, pure, modest, decent mean free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious. chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows. they maintained chaste relations pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions. the pure of heart modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity. preferred more modest swimsuits decent people didn't go to such movies

Examples of pure in a Sentence

The company bottles only the purest water. the pure notes of the flute

Recent Examples on the Web

But breathing pure nitrogen could be deadly because the gas displaces oxygen and could lead to suffocation of the victim. — Doug Phillips, sun-sentinel.com, "Nitrogen leak sickens three, shuts Weston specialty ice cream shop for now," 7 June 2019 In other ways her desire to experience black culture showed up as pure appreciation. — Harmonyholiday, Longreads, "Mama Looks for Melanin," 6 June 2019 One thing’s for certain — Blythe Danner is pure magic. — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, "‘Tomorrow Man’ script fails fascinating characters, but Danner, Lithgow shine," 6 June 2019 Putting them on felt like slipping into something smooth and familiar, like stepping into a pure glass of milk. — Molly Longman, refinery29.com, "These Are The Best Lululemon Leggings For Your Fitness Goals," 6 June 2019 The story goes that Rivera joined the band by pure happenstance: Dylan was driving through downtown Manhattan and spotted her on the street, carrying her violin, and invited her to audition. — Jon Pareles, New York Times, "Bob Dylan’s Glam Hootenanny: Returning to Rolling Thunder," 5 June 2019 Gareon Conley graded out as one of the NFL’s top pure cover corners last year according to Profootballfocus.com. — Jerry Mcdonald, The Mercury News, "Raiders defense will be better, but by how much?," 4 June 2019 But the idea that the Right is weak — and that classical liberalism is a dead end, a source of that weakness — is pure fiction. — David French, National Review, "Against Conservative Cultural Defeatism," 4 June 2019 At a mere 172 square feet, the tiny space is compact enough to actually fit but still has enough room to be useful, whether it's used for storage or for pure fun. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "Amazon Is Selling a DIY Backyard Guest House," 7 May 2019

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