purgatory

noun

pur·​ga·​to·​ry ˈpər-gə-ˌtȯr-ē 

plural purgatories

1

: an intermediate state after death for expiatory purification

specifically : a place or state of punishment wherein according to Roman Catholic doctrine the souls of those who die in God's grace may make satisfaction for past sins and so become fit for heaven

2

: a place or state of temporary suffering or misery

Did you know?

Purgatory is the place where the soul is cleansed of all impurities, as Dante described in his great poem The Divine Comedy. Today purgatory can refer to any place or situation in which suffering and misery are felt to be sharp but temporary. Waiting to hear the results of a test, or whether you got a good job, can be a purgatory. And an endless after-dinner speech can make an entire roomful of people feel as if they're in purgatory.

Examples of purgatory in a Sentence

the purgatory of drug abuse

The marathons were jokingly referred to as one-day purgatories.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most of these have so far failed to make it to the screen and withered in development purgatory. —Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024

There is only a loss of innocence, a summer of purgatory and the sad cynicism surrounding a man previously known in Japan as, kanpeki na hito. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Some waited their entire lives to enjoy their twilight years, only to have been left in a purgatory of loneliness. —Lynsey Addario Megan Specia, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2024

As the weeks went on, the purgatory of Changing Lanes got worse. —Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024

Heat at 40-33 remain seventh in the East -- still in play-in purgatory but only one game out of the playoffs proper -- with nine games left entering tonight’s at Washington. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024

There are myriad versions of egg curry across India, just as there are endless variations on eggs in purgatory and shakshuka. —Melissa Clark, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024

Despite the judgment, the Sandy Hook families are still in legal purgatory after Jones declared bankruptcy. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024

Flower is the 1960s-era hippie who died trying to hug a bear while high on acid, and remained a bit forgetful and drugged-out while living in the purgatory that is Woodstone Mansion. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French purgatorie, from Medieval Latin purgatorium, from Late Latin, neuter of purgatorius purging, from Latin purgare

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

purgatory

noun

pur·​ga·​to·​ry ˈpər-gə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

plural purgatories

: a state after death in which according to Roman Catholic belief the souls of those who die in God's grace are purified of their sins by suffering