pure

adjective

ˈpyu̇r 

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

Synonyms

• absolute
• fine
• neat
• plain
• purified
• refined
• straight
• unadulterated
• unalloyed
• undiluted
• unmixed

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 the thing that’s overriding that is a really pure, just extreme excitement—and a chance to animate this book that has been in my head for so long. —Hazlitt, 10 Apr. 2024

Last October, the company began selling 1-ounce bars made of nearly pure 24-karat gold priced at about $2,000. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024

As generative AI is integrated into common search engines and voters converse with chatbots, people seeking basic information about elections have at times been met with misinformation, pure bunkum, or links to fringe websites. —Mekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024

Climate & Environment California prepares to transform sewage into pure drinking water under new rules Dec. 17, 2023 Ortega said this budget approach strikes the right balance and ensures investments that are necessary as water management becomes more challenging. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

The new 1908 in platinum with that icy blue dial is pure class, its guilloché engraving utterly traditional, its visible movement impressive. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024

The series percolated with the idiosyncratic sensibilities of its creators like few before it, unafraid to digress from the obligations of conventional plotting in order to indulge in pure storytelling, character development, imagery and atmosphere. —Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024

The out-and-back trail is almost seven miles long and passes through open meadows, dense pine forest, and along the river, in addition to taking hikers to a beautiful cascade that tumbles onto pure granite rock. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024

This brand is well-known for its pure, high quality products that are inspired by the beautiful islands of Hawaii. —Luke Knapp, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French pur, pure, going back to Latin pūrus "free from dirt, unmixed with other matter, free from ceremonial defilement or moral stain," going back to Indo-European *puh₂-ro-, whence also Middle Irish úr "fresh, new (of greenery), fair, bright," Welsh ir "verdant, fresh, thriving," adjectival derivative from the verb base *peu̯h₂- "clean, purify," whence, with varying ablaut and suffixation, Sanskrit punā́ti "(s/he) purifies, cleanses," pávate "(s/he) becomes clean, is purified," pavítra- "sieve," Avestan pūitika- "used for purification," Old High German fewen, fouwen "to pass through a sieve"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing pure

• (as) pure as the driven snow
• pure and simple
• hyper-pure
• pure democracy
• simon-pure
• pure imaginary
• pure-blooded
• pure-blood

Kids Definition

pure

adjective

ˈpyu̇(ər 

1

: not mixed with anything else : free from everything that might make dirty, change, or lower the quality

pure water

2

: free from sin or guilt

especially : chaste sense 1

3

: nothing other than

pure nonsense

4

: not applied to everyday problems : theoretical

pure science

pure mathematics

5

a

: of unmixed ancestry

b

: producing offspring which do not vary from the type of the parents or among themselves with respect to one or more characters

Medical Definition

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

Legal Definition

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