pure

pure — adjective

1. A pure substance contains only one material and has nothing else added — for ins

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

A pure substance contains only one material and has nothing else added — for instance, pure gold is made of the element gold and no other metal.

Example

This necklace is made of pure gold, so it is worth a lot of money.

collocation: pure gold / pure silver / pure cotton

Madison only buys shirts that are labelled 100 percent pure cotton.

Common collocations
  • pure gold
  • pure silver
  • pure cotton
  • pure silk
  • pure wool
Synonyms
  • unadulterated

    more formal; used for food or substances that have not been weakened by added ingredients

  • 100%

    informal substitute; '100% cotton' means the same as 'pure cotton'

Antonyms
  • impure

    contains other materials mixed in

  • alloyed

    technically describes metals combined with other metals

Grammar Patterns

pure + noun (pure gold, pure silk)

be + pure

Usage Note

Most common with materials that are sold at different quality levels (gold, silver, cotton, silk, wool). Distinguished from sense 4 (CLEAN) — this sense is about composition, not cleanliness.

Common Mistakes

This ring is pure' (without context).
This ring is made of pure gold.
'pure' alone can sound unclear; specify what the material is.

2. A colour described as pure exists as a single, unmixed shade — no other colour h

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

A colour described as pure exists as a single, unmixed shade — no other colour has been added to lighten or dull it.

Example

The artist mixed the paints until she achieved a pure shade of blue.

collocation: pure shade / pure colour

Yara chose pure white for the walls because it makes the room look bigger.

Common collocations
  • pure shade
  • pure colour
  • pure white
  • pure blue
  • pure red
Synonyms
  • unmixed

    less common but more literal; 'an unmixed blue'

  • vivid

    focuses on brightness rather than lack of mixing

Antonyms
  • muted

    describes a colour that has been softened by adding other colours

  • pale

    describes a colour diluted with white

Grammar Patterns

pure + colour noun (pure red, pure blue)

pure + colour adjective (pure white)

3. When a sound is pure, it comes through as clear and steady, without any scratchi

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

When a sound is pure, it comes through as clear and steady, without any scratchiness, humming, or roughness.

Example

The singer's voice was so pure that the audience held their breath.

collocation: pure voice / pure tone / pure sound

Andrés tuned the guitar until each note rang out pure and clear.

Common collocations
  • pure voice
  • pure tone
  • pure note
  • pure sound
Synonyms
  • clear

    more general; 'a clear voice' is easy to hear but may not be perfectly steady

  • crystal-clear

    emphatic; 'a crystal-clear note' is extremely pure

Antonyms
  • harsh

    rough and unpleasant to hear

  • muffled

    not clear, difficult to hear distinctly

Grammar Patterns

pure + sound noun (pure tone, pure voice)

be + pure

Usage Note

Commonly describes voices, musical notes, and natural sounds. Opposite sense: a sound that is 'rough,' 'harsh,' or 'distorted'.

Common Mistakes

The sound was pure and clean.' (redundant).
The sound was pure.
'pure' already implies clean/clear.

4. Not containing any dirt, pollution, or harmful substances; clean enough to be sa

4.adjectiveB1
Definition

Not containing any dirt, pollution, or harmful substances; clean enough to be safe.

Example

Faisal fills his bottle with pure water from the mountain spring.

collocation: pure water / pure air

The hotel installed filters so guests could breathe pure air in their rooms.

Common collocations
  • pure water
  • pure air
  • pure spring
Synonyms
  • clean

    more general and common; 'clean water' may be filtered but not necessarily naturally pure

  • pristine

    formal; suggests the substance has never been touched by pollution

Antonyms
  • polluted

    containing harmful substances

  • contaminated

    made impure by contact with something dirty or poisonous

Grammar Patterns

pure + noun (pure water, pure air)

be + pure

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (NOT MIXED) — this sense focuses on cleanliness and safety rather than composition. 'Pure water' in sense 4 means it is safe to drink; in sense 1 it would mean it is H₂O with nothing added.

Common Mistakes

The air is pure and clean.' (redundant).
The air is pure.
'pure' already covers 'clean' here.

5. Used before an abstract noun to emphasise that something is exactly that quality

5.adjectiveB1
Definition

Used before an abstract noun to emphasise that something is exactly that quality and nothing else — for example, 'pure luck' means it was only luck that made something happen, not skill or planning.

Example

It was pure luck that Hugo found his lost wallet on the street.

collocation: pure luck / pure chance / pure coincidence

Their meeting at the airport was pure coincidence, not something they planned.

Common collocations
  • pure luck
  • pure chance
  • pure coincidence
  • pure joy
  • pure nonsense
Synonyms
  • complete

    less dramatic; 'complete luck' is factual, 'pure luck' carries emotional emphasis

  • sheer

    very similar but slightly stronger; 'sheer luck' emphasises that luck was the sole factor

Grammar Patterns

pure + abstract noun (pure luck, pure coincidence)

Usage Note

Only used before abstract nouns (luck, coincidence, joy, nonsense, bliss). Never used before concrete nouns in this sense. Compare with sense 7 — sense 7 is predicative ('it was pure bliss') while this sense is attributive ('pure bliss' used directly before the noun).

Common Mistakes

It was pure book.
It was pure nonsense.
This sense only works with abstract nouns.

6. Refers to an academic field where the aim is to build knowledge and theoretical

6.adjectiveB2
Definition

Refers to an academic field where the aim is to build knowledge and theoretical understanding, not to create practical or commercial applications.

Example

Olivia studied pure mathematics at university, focusing on number theory.

collocation: pure mathematics / pure science / pure physics

Professor Okafor's research is in pure physics, with no engineering application yet.

Common collocations
  • pure mathematics
  • pure science
  • pure physics
  • pure chemistry
  • pure research
Synonyms
  • theoretical

    broader; 'theoretical physics' can mean purely abstract or not yet tested

  • abstract

    focuses on ideas rather than physical objects; 'abstract mathematics'

Antonyms
  • applied

    used in practical contexts; 'applied mathematics' uses maths to solve real problems

  • practical

    concerned with actual use rather than theory

Grammar Patterns

pure + academic field (pure mathematics, pure science)

Usage Note

Opposite of 'applied.' The term is most common in 'pure mathematics,' 'pure science,' and 'pure research.' Often used by universities to distinguish academic departments.

7. Positioned after a noun or the linking verb 'to be' to stress that a particular

7.adjectiveB2
Definition

Positioned after a noun or the linking verb 'to be' to stress that a particular feeling or experience is wholly that thing, with no other element mixed in.

Example

Lying in the hammock with a book and fresh mangoes was pure bliss.

predicative use: 'be + pure + abstract noun'

The whole weekend at the beach was pure magic for the children.

Common collocations
  • pure bliss
  • pure magic
  • pure heaven
  • pure hell
Synonyms
  • absolute

    similar intensifying meaning; 'absolute bliss' is more common in British English

  • total

    less emotional; 'total bliss' sounds more factual

Grammar Patterns

be + pure + abstract noun (it was pure bliss)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 5 (COMPLETE) — sense 5 goes before the noun ('pure luck'), while this sense follows the verb 'to be' and the noun that is being described ('it was pure bliss'). The two senses overlap in some uses ('pure joy' can be attributive or predicative), but this sense adds a stronger 'nothing else' flavour.

8. Living or behaving according to high moral standards, especially by avoiding sex

8.adjectiveB2
Definition

Living or behaving according to high moral standards, especially by avoiding sexual thoughts or acts that are considered wrong.

Example

The monk spoke about the importance of keeping one's thoughts pure.

collocation: pure thoughts / pure heart / pure mind

Adina was raised to believe that a person should lead a pure life.

Common collocations
  • pure thoughts
  • pure heart
  • pure mind
  • pure life
  • pure love
Synonyms
  • chaste

    specifically about sexual purity; formal and somewhat old-fashioned

  • virtuous

    broader moral goodness; 'a virtuous person' is good in many ways, not just sexually

Antonyms
  • impure

    the direct opposite; 'impure thoughts' in a religious context

  • sinful

    strongly religious; committed wrongdoing according to moral law

Grammar Patterns

pure + noun (pure thoughts, pure heart)

pure in + noun (pure in heart)

Usage Note

Often carries religious or traditional overtones. 'Pure in heart' is a set phrase from religious texts. In modern everyday conversation, this sense can sound old-fashioned; 'innocent' or 'decent' are more neutral alternatives.

Common Mistakes

She is pure' (ambiguous).
She leads a pure life.
Adding context makes the meaning clear and avoids confusion with other senses of 'pure.'
Idioms

pure and simple

idiom

Used after a noun to emphasize that something is exactly that and nothing else.

The problem is a lack of money, pure and simple.

Is this decision based on fear, pure and simple?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something in its true form, but they differ in scope. Pure is the broadest — it works for materials (pure gold) and abstract qualities (pure luck). Unadulterated is more formal and specific: it means nothing has been added to weaken the original, commonly used for food (unadulterated honey). Genuine and authentic both focus on origin rather than composition — a genuine Rolex is made by the real company, not a fake, but it may not be pure gold. Authentic also carries cultural weight: authentic Thai food is made the traditional way, not necessarily with pure ingredients. For learners: use pure for material content, genuine for real vs. counterfeit, and authentic for cultural or traditional accuracy. ✓ 'This ring is pure gold.' ✓ 'This is a genuine Rolex.' ✓ 'The restaurant serves authentic Italian pasta.'

pure ↗unadulteratedgenuine ↗authentic ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • absolutely pure
  • perfectly pure
  • remarkably pure

Phrases

Prepositions

  • pure in (pure in heart)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Pure entered English through Old French 'pur,' which came from Latin 'purus' meaning 'clean, unmixed, unadulterated.' The Latin root is related to 'purify' and 'purge.' The moral sense (pure in heart) developed early in Christian Latin and has been part of English since the 13th century. The scientific and theoretical senses (pure mathematics) emerged in the 16th–17th centuries as European universities began distinguishing knowledge-for-its-own-sake from applied knowledge.