Pure — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈpyu̇r/

Meaning & Definition of Pure

Pure (adjective)

  1. unmixed with any other matter
  2. free from dust, dirt, or taint
  3. spotless, stainless

Pure (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. free from added matter

    "There is a big difference between pure maple syrup and pancake syrup made with other ingredients."

    "the solution must be kept pure for the experiment to work"

    similar: absolute, fine, neat, plain, purified, refined, straight, unadulterated, unalloyed, undiluted, unmixed
    related: clarified, filtered, clean, fresh, taintless, uncontaminated, uncorrupted, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, rendered, tried, concentrated, full-bodied, strong, uncombined
    opposite: adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed
    near: befouled, besmirched, contaminated, corrupted, debased, defiled, fouled, polluted, soiled, spoiled, sullied, tainted, unclarified, amalgamated, blended, coalesced, combined, commingled, compounded, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, conjoined, fused, joined, linked, united, cheapened, doctored, watered-down

  2. free from any trace of the coarse or indecent

    "the humor in the movie is as pure and wholesome as any parent could wish"

    similar: chaste, clean, decent, G-rated, immaculate, modest, vestal, virgin, virginal
    related: lily-white, spotless, stainless, unblemished, undefiled, unsoiled, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, untainted, untarnished, decorous, proper, seemly, cultivated, refined, tasteful, harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive
    opposite: coarse, dirty, filthy, immodest, impure, indecent, obscene, smutty, unchaste, unclean, vulgar
    near: blemished, defiled, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, tainted, tarnished, improper, indecorous, indelicate, ribald, unseemly, crude, tacky, tasteless, unrefined

  3. free from sin

    "in one beatitude those who are pure in heart are promised the sight of God"

    similar: impeccable, innocent, sinless, white
    related: chaste, moral, virgin, virtuous, immaculate, spotless, unblemished, unstained, unsullied, decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, righteous, upright, blameless, guiltless
    opposite: impure, peccant, sinful, sinning
    near: lascivious, lecherous, lewd, libidinous, lickerish, lustful, oversexed, unchaste, evil, immoral, iniquitous, reprobate, unrighteous, virtueless, wicked, corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, erring, fallen, lost, perverted, condemned, damned

  4. having no exceptions or restrictions

    "that story is pure nonsense"

    similar: absolute, all-out, arrant, blank, blooming (chiefly British), bodacious (Southern & Midland), categorical, clean, complete, consummate, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, dreadful, fair, flat, flat-out, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plumb, profound, rank, regular, sheer, simple, stark, stone, straight-out, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unmitigated, unqualified, utter, very
    related: authentic, classic, genuine, real, veritable, constant, endless, eternal, perpetual, undying, unremitting, extreme, unrestricted, confirmed, habitual, hopeless, inveterate, extraordinary, frightful, horrible, huge, main, superlative, supreme, surpassing, terrible, terrific
    near: doubtful, dubious, equivocal, qualified, questionable, restricted, uncertain

Related Entry: Pure-blooded (adjective)

Pure-blooded is a different word from Pure. The synonyms below are for pure-blooded, not for pure.

  1. of unmixed ancestry

    "both dogs are pure-blooded Chesapeake Bay retrievers"

    similar: blooded, full-blood, full-blooded, pedigreed, purebred, thoroughbred
    related: well-bred, inbred
    opposite: hybrid, mixed, mongrel
    near: crossbred, crossed, half-blood, half-bred, hybridized, interbred, outcrossed

Related Entry: Pure democracy (noun)

Pure democracy is a different word from Pure. The synonyms below are for pure democracy, not for pure.

  1. as in democracy, autonomy

    similar: democracy, republic, self-government, self-rule, autonomy, sovereignty, home rule, self-determination
    opposite: despotism, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, totalitarianism, tyranny

Related Entry: Simon-pure (adjective)

Simon-pure is a different word from Pure. The synonyms below are for simon-pure, not for pure.

  1. as in pious, self-righteous

    similar: canting, goody-goody, holier-than-thou, moralistic, pharisaical, pious, rectitudinous, sanctimonious, self-righteous, artificial, backhanded, counterfeit, double, double-dealing, double-faced, fake, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, Janus-faced, jive (slang), left-handed, lip, mealy, mealymouthed, Pecksniffian, phony, phony-baloney, pretended, two-faced, unctuous, affected, assumed, claptrap, contrived, forced, mechanical, put-on, simulated, strained, unnatural, empty, hollow, meaningless, deceitful, devious, dishonest, false, untruthful, facile, glib, superficial, bogus, sham, campy, facetious, jocular, tongue-in-cheek
    opposite: artless, candid, genuine, heartfelt, honest, sincere, undesigning, unfeigned, direct, forthright, frank, heart-to-heart, open, plain, straightforward

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pure

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pure:

Chiefly British: blooming
Southern & Midland: bodacious
absolute, fine, neat, plain, purified, refined, straight, unadulterated, unalloyed, undiluted, unmixed, chaste, clean, decent, G-rated, immaculate, modest, vestal, virgin, virginal, impeccable, innocent, sinless, white, all-out, arrant, blank, categorical, complete, consummate, crashing, damn, damned, dead, deadly, definite, downright, dreadful, fair, flat

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pure

Words with the opposite meaning of Pure:

adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed, coarse, dirty, filthy, immodest, indecent, obscene, smutty, unchaste, unclean, vulgar, peccant, sinful, sinning

Related Words for Pure

clarified, filtered, fresh, taintless, uncontaminated, uncorrupted, undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, rendered, tried, concentrated, full-bodied, strong, uncombined, lily-white, spotless, stainless, unblemished, unsoiled, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, untarnished, decorous, proper, seemly, cultivated, tasteful, harmless

Near Antonyms of Pure

befouled, besmirched, contaminated, corrupted, debased, defiled, fouled, polluted, soiled, spoiled, sullied, tainted, unclarified, amalgamated, blended, coalesced, combined, commingled, compounded, incorporated, intermingled, intermixed, merged, mingled, conjoined, fused, joined, linked, united, cheapened

Word Forms of Pure

Inflections: purer, purest

Derived words: pureness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Pure

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French pur, pure, going back to Latin pūrus "free from dirt, unmixed with other matter, free from ceremonial defilement or moral stain," going back to Indo-European *puh2-ro-, whence also Middle Irish úr "fresh, new (of greenery), fair, bright," Welsh ir "verdant, fresh, thriving," adjectival derivative from the verb base *peu̯h2- "clean, purify," whence, with varying ablaut and suffixation, Sanskrit punā́ti "(s/he) purifies, cleanses," pávate "(s/he) becomes clean, is purified," pavítra- "sieve," Avestan pūitika- "used for purification," Old High German fewen, fouwen "to pass through a sieve"

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Pure

Words & Phrases Containing Pure

pure-blooded, pure democracy, pure imaginary, pure laine, pure and simple, simon-pure, (as) pure as the driven snow, hyperpure

Frequently Asked Questions about Pure

What does "Pure" mean?

"Pure" means unmixed with any other matter. As an adjective, it is defined as: unmixed with any other matter. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pure"?

Other words for "Pure" include absolute, fine, neat, plain, purified, refined, straight and unadulterated. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pure" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pure"?

There are 132 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pure". Common alternatives include absolute, fine, neat, plain, purified, refined, straight, unadulterated, unalloyed and undiluted.

What is the opposite of "Pure"?

Antonyms of "Pure" include adulterated, alloyed, diluted, impure, mixed, coarse, dirty and filthy. Near antonyms include befouled, besmirched, contaminated and corrupted.

How do you use "Pure" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pure" in a sentence: "There is a big difference between pure maple syrup and pancake syrup made with other ingredients."; "the solution must be kept pure for the experiment to work"; "the humor in the movie is as pure and wholesome as any parent could wish".

Is "Pure" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pure" is an adjective.

Is "Pure" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Pure" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Pure"?

"Pure" is pronounced /ˈpyu̇r/.