pure

adjective \ ˈpyu̇r \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: pure in a Sentence

purer; purest

1 a (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

2 a : 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

3 a (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

—

pureness

noun

See pure defined for English-language learners

See pure defined for kids

Examples of pure in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of pure from the Web

His last wish was to take all of his grandchildren to Universal to see the pure joy in their eyes.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Albert D. Thomas," 5 July 2018
Although such hybrid embryos are not pure northern white rhinoceros, the researchers were able to show for the first time that the creation of such embryos is possible.

— deutsche welle, USA TODAY, "Northern white rhino could be saved from extinction using embryos," 5 July 2018
Since those players have been developed in-house rather than bought in, all of that money is pure profit for the club.

— SI.com, "Improving Newcastle's Academy Might Just Make the Magpies Premier League Regulars for Years to Come," 4 July 2018
Even as a pure rental, Harper would likely bring a pretty impressive package of young players back to Washington.

— ted berg, For The Win, "Should the freefalling Nationals look to trade Bryce Harper?," 4 July 2018
Cousins has been known to be a gloomy, angry, divisive presence in the locker room, and that crucial element to the Warriors’ dominance — pure joy — isn’t part of his makeup.

— bruce jenkins, SFChronicle.com, "DeMarcus Cousins and the Warriors: A temporary, fascinating spectacle," 3 July 2018
Sorry to Bother You, Tessa Thompson’s latest, is pure magical realism.

— refinery29.com, "July Click List: R29 Entertainment Editors' Picks For The Month," 2 July 2018
Brett Kelman, The Tennessean When Niki Rasmussen fatally overdosed last August in Columbus, her brother wasn't surprised the opioid found in her system and in the plastic baggy next to her body was pure fentanyl.

— shari rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "'Bodies can't take it': Fentanyl involved in nearly half of drug overdose deaths," 2 July 2018
Just a pure phone conversation in the darkness of a studio made that very emotional for me.

— recode staff, Recode, "The New York Times’ The Daily podcast host Michael Barbaro talks with Kara Swisher," 29 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of pure

Middle English pur, from Anglo-French, from Latin purus; akin to Old High German fowen to sift, Sanskrit punāti he cleanses, Middle Irish úr fresh, new

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

pure Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

PURE Defined for English Language Learners

pure

adjective

: not mixed with anything else
: clean and not harmful in any way
: having a smooth and clear sound that is not mixed with any other sounds

PURE Defined for Kids

pure

adjective \ ˈpyu̇r \

purer; purest

1 : not mixed with anything else : free from everything that might injure or lower the quality

pure water

pure silk

2 : free from sin : innocent, chaste

3 : nothing other than : total

pure nonsense

—

purely

adverb

Medical Dictionary

pure

adjective \ ˈpyu̇(ə)r \

purer; purest

1 : unmixed with any other matter

pure gold

2 : free from dust, dirt, or taint

pure food

3 a : of unmixed ancestry : purebred

b : homozygous in and breeding true for one or more characters

—

pureness

noun

Law Dictionary

pure

adjective

1 a : unmixed with any other matter

b : free from dirt or taint

2 : being thus and nothing other

a pure no-fault compensation system

—

purely

adverb

—

pureness

noun

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