What does "purge" mean?

1. (to remove political opponents) to remove people from an organisation or government because you do not want them there anymore. 2. (to clean or empty out) to get rid of things that are not pure or not wanted from a place or a system. 3. (to empty the stomach) to force food out of your body, usually by vomiting, often as part of an eating disorder. 4. (a forceful removal) the act of removing a group of people or things suddenly and forcefully.

How do you use "purge"?

Often used with the preposition 'of'.

purge

v. · n.

US //ˈpɝdʒ// UK //pˈɜːdʒ// purge

1 to remove political opponents (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to remove people from an organisation or government because you do not want them there anymore.

to remove people from an organisation, party, or nation in a sudden or violent manner, typically to eliminate political opposition.

Example

The new leader decided to purge the party of anyone who disagreed with his ideas.

Example

Following the failed coup, the regime began to purge the military of high-ranking officers suspected of disloyalty.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of'.
- recruit
- admit
2 to clean or empty out (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to get rid of things that are not pure or not wanted from a place or a system.

to rid a system, place, or object of something impure, unwanted, or redundant. Transitive, often taking a direct object.

Example

You should purge old files from your computer to make it run faster.

Example

The technician had to purge the air from the hydraulic lines before the brakes would function correctly again.
- contaminate
- fill

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3 to empty the stomach (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

to force food out of your body, usually by vomiting, often as part of an eating disorder.

to empty the stomach or bowels, often through induced vomiting or the use of laxatives; frequently used in the context of eating disorders.

Example

The patient was struggling with a cycle of eating too much and then trying to purge.

Example

Clinical assessments for bulimia nervosa often focus on the frequency with which patients purge after binge-eating episodes.
- evacuate
- vomit
4 a forceful removal (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

the act of removing a group of people or things suddenly and forcefully.

the sudden and often violent removal of people from an organisation or the systematic elimination of unwanted items.

Example

The sudden purge of senior staff left the company in a state of confusion.

Example

Historians often study the Great Purge as a period of extreme political repression and internal terror.

Origin

From Middle English purgen, from Old French purgier, from Latin pūrgō (“I make pure, I cleanse”), from pūrus (“clean, pure”) + agō (“I make, I do”).