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Synonyms

purifier

British  
/ ˈpjʊərɪˌfaɪə /

noun

  1. a device or substance that frees something of extraneous, contaminating, or debasing matter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Explanation

A purifier is something that filters dangerous contaminants out of water or air. If you bring a good water purifier along on your camping trip, you can safely drink from rivers and streams. Air purifiers are useful for removing dust and other allergens from the air, as well as smoke particles and even viruses and other microscopic germs. People with gas stoves or wood-burning fireplaces in their homes often use air purifiers to ensure that the air they breathe is safe and clean. Purifier comes from the verb purify, or "cleanse," and the Latin root purus, "pure."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This ghost rattles industrial hoses and temporarily melds with an air purifier.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 4, 2026

After pitching their best ideas—an automated pothole-repair machine, a wearable air purifier for people with allergies—the students coalesced around a winner: a self-inflating-tire product.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 12, 2025

Dorsey recommends using an air purifier, particularly if you live in an urban area.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 31, 2025

But what kind of air purifier should residents get?

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 14, 2025

She had no shoes, no hoverboard, no friends, not even a water purifier or a packet of SpagBol.

From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

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