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

Impurity in a piece of meat sickens those who eat it.

From The Guardian • Jan. 27, 2018

Impurity crept through his blood like a corroding poison.

From The Child of Pleasure by Harding, Georgina

Impurity, abstain from, 126; purity and impurity belong to oneself, 131.

From The Gospel of Buddha Compiled from Ancient Records by Paul Carus by Carus, Paul

The U-Sound denotes accordingly Retiracy, Obscurity, Shade, Turbidity, Mixedness, or Impurity, as of Colors in a dim light, or as of Materials in a slime or plasma, etc.

From The Continental Monthly, Vol 6, No 5, November 1864 Devoted To Literature And National Policy by Various

There are three ways, I repeat, in which we may defile this temple, and the first I will venture to speak about is the sin of Impurity.

From Men in the Making by Shepherd, Ambrose

Related Words

• contamination
• grime
• pollutant
• scum