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

The new design takes a different approach by guiding airflow around the user and continuously drawing contaminated particles into a localized purification area.

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The two women move around the room, burning herbs and shaking shamanic rattles while singing and chanting in a purification ritual known as "smudging".

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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.”

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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.

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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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Related Words

• distillation