impurity
Translation
impurity, contaminant, adulteration
Examples
The water was tested for impurities.
The water was tested for impurities.
He felt a sense of moral impurity.
He felt a sense of moral impurity.
Grammar Patterns
((impurities)) in sth. substances that make sth. not pure They found impurities in the sample.
Similar Words
Synonyms: contaminant, pollutant, taint; Antonyms: purity, cleanness
Etymology
From 'impure' + '-ity' (noun-forming suffix). 'Impure' is from Latin 'im-' (not) + 'purus' (pure).
Memory Tips
'Im-' means 'not', so it's the state or substance of 'not' being 'pure'.