purify

verb

pu·​ri·​fy ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī 

purified; purifying

transitive verb

: to make pure: such as

a

: to clear from material defilement or imperfection

b

: to free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish

c

: to free from undesirable elements

intransitive verb

: to grow or become pure or clean

purifier

ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms of purify

• purge

Examples of purify in a Sentence

We purified the water by boiling it.

You can purify the air with a filtration system.

a bottle of purified water

She believed she could purify herself through constant prayer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Men, on the other hand, need to be purified by a woman through ritual in order to effectively engage in Kundalini practice. —Anya Foxen, The Conversation, 9 Dec. 2025

For example, those that change the cooling solution or solvent, which is typically used in the process of separating and purifying nuclear materials. —Tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025

For the red-family (red-to-yellow) carotenoids, the researchers harvested and purified the cellulose before soaking it in the pigment-producing cultures. —New Atlas, 2 Dec. 2025

This little houseplant is easy for beginners, safe around pets, purifies the air, and is forgiving of neglect. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English purifien, from Anglo-French purifier, from Latin purificare, from Latin purus + -ificare -ify

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for purify

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify

Kids Definition

purify

verb

pu·​ri·​fy ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī 

purified; purifying

: to make or become pure

purification

ˌpyu̇r-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun

purifier

ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun