English Reference
Adjective

impure

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˌɪmˈpjʊɹ/ UK /ɪmpjˈɔː/ im·pure Programming

adj.containing something bad or unwanted. In programming, it means a value or data that is not in the correct format or is missing.

adj.containing an undesirable or incorrect component. In a programming context, it describes a value that fails to meet a specific type or validation constraint.


SIMPLE

The function returns an impure value if the input is wrong.

CONTEXTUAL

The system checks for impure data before it processes the transaction to prevent errors.

COMPLEX

In functional programming, an impure function is one that produces different results for the same input or has side effects that alter the program's state.

The woman is not a Brahmin and is considered sexually “impure” – because she is not a virgin – as per prevailing norms.

The Conversation· 18 Aug 2026

From Middle French impur, from Latin impūrus.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin impūrus
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated