Word
purification
Phoneticspu·rifi·ca·tion
US/ˌpjʊɹəfəˈkeɪʃən/
UK/pjˌʊɹɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the process of removing dirty or harmful things from something to make it clean and pure.
n. the removal of contaminants or impurities from a substance or environment. Often describes chemical, industrial, or spiritual processes.
Examples
“The city needs a new water purification system.”
“The purification of the local river took several years of strict environmental regulation and community effort.”
“Advanced filtration techniques allow for the purification of industrial wastewater to a degree that it can be safely reintroduced into the local ecosystem without harming aquatic life.”
Examples
simple
“The city needs a new water purification system.”
contextual
“The purification of the local river took several years of strict environmental regulation and community effort.”
complex
“Advanced filtration techniques allow for the purification of industrial wastewater to a degree that it can be safely reintroduced into the local ecosystem without harming aquatic life.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general process; countable when referring to a specific instance or method.
Real-World Examples
“The result can be higher costs for water purification.” “This built-in purification effect raised the final DNA recovery rate from 14% to 98%.” Etymology
From Old French purificacion, from Latin pūrificātiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/purification