impure

American  

[im-pyoor] / ɪmˈpyʊər /

adjective

1. not pure; mixed with extraneous matter, especially of an inferior or contaminating nature.

   impure water and air.

2. modified by admixture, as color.

3. mixed or combined with something else.

   an impure style of architecture.

4. regarded by a religion as unclean, as animals or things.

5. not morally pure or proper; unchaste or obscene.

   impure thoughts.

   Synonyms:

   licentious, improper, vulgar, coarse

6. marked by foreign and unsuitable or objectionable elements or characteristics, as a style of art or of literary expression.

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impure British  

/ ɪmˈpjʊə /

adjective

1. not pure; combined with something else; tainted or sullied

2. 1. (of persons) ritually unclean and as such debarred from certain religious ceremonies

   2. (of foodstuffs, vessels, etc) debarred from certain religious uses

3. (of a colour) mixed with another colour or with black or white

4. of more than one origin or style, as of architecture or other design

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Other Word Forms

• impurely adverb
• impureness noun

Etymology

Origin of impure

From the Latin word impūrus, dating back to 1530–40. See im- ², pure

Example Sentences

Two major developments in the mid-1800s showed why impure water is dangerous.

From Salon

"Our study represents just the tip of the iceberg, opening new lines of investigation of how impure ice adheres with widespread implications across multiple disciplines," Anand said.

From Science Daily

Elsa Laurenzi, who has written about Rome’s Jewish catacombs, notes that Jews did not come to catacombs to pray, considering burial grounds impure.

From New York Times

Moreover, he says, corrosion-resistant electrodes may also be useful for tapping other impure water sources, such as wastewater and brackish water.

From Science Magazine

Shanahan has spent most of his career trying to purify his own competitive intentions and avoid impure intentions in others.

From Washington Post