purify

verb

pu·​ri·​fy ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce purify (audio)
purified; purifying

transitive verb

: to make pure: such as
a
: to clear from material defilement or imperfection
b
: to free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish
c
: to free from undesirable elements

intransitive verb

: to grow or become pure or clean

Examples of purify in a Sentence

We purified the water by boiling it. You can purify the air with a filtration system. a bottle of purified water She believed she could purify herself through constant prayer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The three-step regimen includes starts with the Regenerative Exosome Cleanser (£70); a daily purifying treatment infused with exosomes to gently cleanse while kickstarting the skin’s renewal process. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 Plants can also lift your mood, add moisture to and purify the air, and help you to sleep more soundly. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 Beef Tallow Beef tallow is made by separating fat from meat and purifying it. Merve Ceylan, Health, 30 Apr. 2025 As for the cooling setting, this is a great option because the Dyson appliance only circulates purified air using HEPA filtration throughout your whole room. Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for purify

Word History

Etymology

Middle English purifien, from Anglo-French purifier, from Latin purificare, from Latin purus + -ificare -ify

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of purify was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Purify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purify. Accessed 31 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

purify

verb
pu·​ri·​fy ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce purify (audio)
purified; purifying
: to make or become pure
purification
ˌpyu̇r-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on purify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!