purgatory

American  

[pur-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈpɜr gəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

plural

purgatories

1. (in the belief of Roman Catholics and others) a condition or place in which the souls of those dying penitent are purified from venial sins, or undergo the temporal punishment that, after the guilt of mortal sin has been remitted, still remains to be endured by the sinner.

2. Italian Purgatorio.  (initial capital letter, italics) the second part of Dante's Divine Comedy, in which the repentant sinners are depicted.

3. any condition or place of temporary punishment, suffering, expiation, or the like.

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adjective

1. serving to cleanse, purify, or expiate.

purgatory British  

/ ˈpɜːɡətərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

1. RC Church a state or place in which the souls of those who have died in a state of grace are believed to undergo a limited amount of suffering to expiate their venial sins and become purified of the remaining effects of mortal sin

2. a place or condition of suffering or torment, esp one that is temporary

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purgatory Cultural  

1. In the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, the condition of souls of the dead who die with some punishment (though not damnation) due them for their sins. Purgatory is conceived as a condition of suffering and purification that leads to union with God in heaven. Purgatory is not mentioned in the Bible (see also Bible); Catholic authorities defend the teaching on purgatory by arguing that prayer for the dead is an ancient practice of Christianity and that this practice assumes that the dead can be in a state of suffering — a state that the living can improve by their prayers.

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Discover More

A “purgatory” is, by extension, any place of suffering, usually for past misdeeds.

Etymology

Origin of purgatory

First recorded in 1175–1225; (for the noun) Middle English purgatorie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin pūrgātōrium, noun use of neuter of Late Latin pūrgātōrius “purging,” from pūrgā(re) “to purge” ( purge ) + -tōrius -tory ¹; adjective derivative of the noun

Explanation

Being stuck in standstill traffic can feel like purgatory, but this brief spell of unpleasantness is nothing compared to the misery endured by souls waiting to get into heaven, which is the original meaning of the word. Purgatory comes from a Late Latin verb meaning "to cleanse" — purge shares the same root. In Roman Catholic doctrine, souls atoned for past sins in purgatory before entering heaven. In fact, for centuries, purgatory was often regarded as an actual physical place. Today, if you say you are in purgatory, you feel stuck or not able to continue towards a goal. High school might feel like purgatory because even though you're finished with your carefree childhood, you don't have the freedoms of adulthood yet.

Example Sentences

With its bed made just so, “Exit 8” has a refreshing ambition: It wants to be both a purgatory and an advancement in form.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Since 2008, the government has taken no conclusive action, leaving shareholders in purgatory.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Big picture: The job market is stuck in a purgatory of sorts — it’s not getting any better, but it’s also not getting worse.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

I was cast, again, back down to the anonymous purgatory of millions of other job seekers who can’t get a foothold, regardless of credentials, enthusiasm, or positive attitude.

From Slate • Jan. 20, 2026

I can accept purgatory if heaven is beyond it.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• limbo