impurity

Noun

1. The condition of being impure; because of contamination, pollution, adulteration or insufficient purification.
   • Even animals in the Jewish system cause impurity only when they are dead.

   Synonyms: impureness

   Antonyms: purity

2. A component or additive that renders something else impure.
   • The impurities in the iron ore made extraction of the iron very difficult.
   • An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine. - 2013 June 1, “A better...

   Synonyms: adulterant contamination taint adulterator contaminant contaminator impurity pollutant pollution sophisticant

3. A state of immorality or sin; especially the weakness of the flesh: inchastity.
   • With his cheating, lying and stealing, he epitomised the impurity of humanity.

   Synonyms: depravity perversion wickedness baseness corruption defilement degeneracy degradation depravation depravedness impurity iniquity lewdity malignity misdoing misguilt obliquity peccability pollution pravity sin sinfulness turpitude vitiation