impurity

[ im-pyoor-i-tee ]
/ ɪmˈpyʊər ɪ ti /

noun, plural im·pu·ri·ties for 2.

the quality or state of being impure.
Often impurities. something that is or makes impure: After the flood the authorities warned against impurities in the drinking water.

Origin of impurity

1400–50; late Middle English impurite < Latin impūritās. See impure, -ity

Example sentences from the Web for impurity

British Dictionary definitions for impurity

impurity
/ (ɪmˈpjʊərɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the quality of being impure
an impure thing, constituent, or element impurities in the water
electronics a small quantity of an element added to a pure semiconductor crystal to control its electrical conductivity See also acceptor (def. 2), donor (def. 5)