impurity

American  

[im-pyoor-i-tee] / ɪmˈpyʊər ɪ ti /

noun

plural

impurities

1. the quality or state of being impure.

   Synonyms:

   taint, pollution, contamination

2. Often impurities. something that is or makes impure.

   After the flood the authorities warned against impurities in the drinking water.

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impurity British  

/ ɪmˈpjʊərɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality of being impure

2. an impure thing, constituent, or element

   impurities in the water

3. electronics a small quantity of an element added to a pure semiconductor crystal to control its electrical conductivity See also acceptor donor

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Etymology

Origin of impurity

1400–50; late Middle English impurite < Latin impūritās. See impure, -ity

Explanation

An impurity is something that ruins the uncontaminated nature of something. If someone accuses you of impurity, they think you or your nature has been spoiled in some way by sin. When water is pure, the only thing in that water is water. Add a contaminant, say salt or bleach, and you are introducing an impurity, something that turns the water impure. When used with people, the word has a religious overtone. Someone who is pure is unspoiled by sin. Think Snow White. If you convinced Snow White to rob a bank with you, you'd be spoiling her good nature with your wretched impurity.

Example Sentences

It followed concerns in several countries that the products may contain the impurity.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2024

"OTOCs were actually invented in a very different context about 55 years ago, when they were used to look at how electrons in superconductors are affected by disturbances from an impurity," Wolynes said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2024

But the intention of the production, directed and restaged by Wayne Cilento, was explicitly to claim Fosse for the pantheon of pure dance geniuses like Robbins, as if storytelling were an impurity.

From New York Times • May 10, 2023

However, the researchers said in the study published Friday in the journal Science Advances, most academics had previously seen the lime clasts as an impurity in the mixture that couldn’t be filtered out.

From Washington Times • Jan. 8, 2023

Perhaps she’s the impurity in him, the static in his signal that the bullies can sense.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• contamination
• grime
• pollutant
• scum