pure
PYOOR
Pure (adj) means not mixed with anything else; free from impurities or contamination. Example: “The spring water was pure enough to drink straight from the source.”
adj
1
Not mixed with anything else; free from impurities or contamination.
"The spring water was pure enough to drink straight from the source."
"They make jewelry from pure gold, not an alloy."
"This honey is pure, with no sugar syrup added."
2
Complete and total; nothing but.
"It was pure luck that they found the missing keys."
"The look on his face was one of pure joy."
"Climbing that hill in the rain was pure madness."
3
Morally clean or innocent.
"She was praised for her pure intentions in helping the community."
"The story describes a pure young shepherd who never told a lie."
"Children often have a pure view of the world, free from suspicion."
How to use pure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnmixed, unspoiled, or complete — used for substances, motives, and emphasis alike.
Common pairings
pure water
pure luck
pure and simple
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Word forms
- Plural
- pures
- Third person singular
- pures
- Past tense
- pured
- Comparative
- purer, more pure
- Superlative
- purest, most pure
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The spring water was _____ enough to drink straight from the source.
Etymology
From Old French pur, from Latin pūrus ("clean, unmixed, plain").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for pure
See all rhymes for pure →Frequently asked questions
What does “pure” mean?
The word “pure” means not mixed with anything else; free from impurities or contamination. In plain terms, unmixed, unspoiled, or complete — used for substances, motives, and emphasis alike.
How do you pronounce “pure”?
“Pure” is pronounced PYOOR (/ˈpjʊɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pure” in a sentence?
Here is “pure” used in a sentence: “The spring water was pure enough to drink straight from the source.”
What is another word for “pure”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pure” include chaste, cherry, clean, flawless, halal and ideal.
What is the opposite of “pure”?
The opposite of “pure” — its antonyms — are adulterated, contaminated, defiled, denatured and dirtied/dirty.
What part of speech is “pure”?
“Pure” is an adjective.
Where does the word “pure” come from?
The word “pure” comes from Latin. From Old French pur, from Latin pūrus ("clean, unmixed, plain").
Is “pure” a common word?
“Pure” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between pure and clean?
Pure means unmixed, made of one substance with nothing else added, like pure gold. Clean means free from dirt or germs, but not necessarily of a single substance. Clean water has had contaminants removed; pure water is water and nothing else. Something can be clean without being pure, and pure without being spotless.
What is the opposite of pure?
The main opposites are 'impure', 'contaminated', and 'adulterated', all meaning mixed with unwanted substances. 'Diluted' fits when something has been thinned with another liquid, and 'mixed' fits when different elements are combined. Where pure means clean and unmixed, its opposites describe something tainted or blended with other things.
What is an example of pure?
Pure gold contains no other metals mixed in. Pure water holds no minerals, chemicals, or impurities. 'Pure wool' means the fabric is nothing but wool. The word also works figuratively: 'pure joy' or 'pure luck' means an emotion or outcome unmixed with anything else. Each shows one thing with nothing added.
Can something be 100% pure?
In everyday terms, yes, since 'pure' describes something with no meaningful trace of other substances, like pure gold or pure spring water. In strict scientific terms, absolute purity is very hard to reach, because tiny impurities almost always remain. So 'pure' usually means pure enough for its purpose rather than perfectly flawless.
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