Word
impurity
Phoneticsim·pu·ri·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪmˈpjʊɹəti/
UK/ɪmpjˈʊɹɪti/
Countable & uncountable Science
Definition
n. a small amount of something that is not pure. It can be a dirt particle in water or a bad quality in a person's character.
n. a substance that is not pure; an element or compound that is present in a material in an undesired or unintended state. Often used metaphorically to describe a flaw in a person's character or a process.
Examples
“The water was clear, but it still contained a small impurity.”
“The chemist used a special filter to remove any impurity from the liquid before the final test.”
“While the diamond was nearly flawless, a microscopic impurity in the crystal lattice caused it to refract light in a slightly different way than a pure specimen.”
Examples
simple
“The water was clear, but it still contained a small impurity.”
contextual
“The chemist used a special filter to remove any impurity from the liquid before the final test.”
complex
“While the diamond was nearly flawless, a microscopic impurity in the crystal lattice caused it to refract light in a slightly different way than a pure specimen.”
Real-World Examples
“The recovered material is also pure, even when the starting material contains dyes or impurities.” “Extreme heat would destroy their structure and produce unwanted impurities.” Etymology
From impure + -ity. From Middle French impurité, from Latin impuritas.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/impurity