purification

[pyoor-uh-fi-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of making something pure and free of any contaminating, debasing, or foreign elements.

   We fund groundbreaking development projects like water purification and clean cookstove technology.

2. the act of making something free of guilt or evil.

   Purification of the soul brings freedom from hatred, selfishness, and greed.

3. the act or process of making something clean and fit for ceremonial or ritual use.

   At this early Shinto temple, the ceremonies consisted chiefly of ritual cleansings and purifications.

Other Word Forms

• nonpurification noun
• repurification noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of purification¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin pūrificātiōn-, stem of pūrificātiō “ritual cleansing”; purify ( def. ), -ation ( def. )

Example Sentences

Just like that bill increased ICE’s funding by billions of dollars, Lockjaw’s new group of bigot buddies aims to use their money to fund covert methods of “racial purification.”

Read more on Salon

According to local doctors, cited by Sudanese media, drone attacks have caused power outages at water purification stations, which has left people with no choice but to use unclean water.

Read more on BBC

He said Palestinians were "enduring what may be the cruellest phase of this cruel conflict" with restricted supplies of fuel, shelter, cooking gas and water purification supplies.

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Under those rules, fishermen were previously not allowed to transport the animals to the EU unless they had already been treated in purification plants.

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Every day, I became less convinced by complete purification as a means of enlightenment, and more interested in curation, transmutation and integration.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• distillation