purge

UK: /ˈpɜː^rdʒ/ US: /pɝdʒ/ ,(pûrj)

Inflections of 'purge' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

purges

v 3rd person singular

purging

v pres p

purged

v past

purging

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

purge /pɜrdʒ/   v., purged, purg•ing, n. 
v. 

1. [~ + object] to rid of impurities;
   cleanse;
   purify.
2. to clear or free (something), as by getting rid of or removing undesirable members:
   [~ + object + of + object] The revolutionaries purged the party of anyone thought to be disloyal.
3. to get rid of or remove (undesirable members) from a government, political organization, etc.:
   [~ + object] The party purged anyone disloyal.
4. Medicine [~ + object] to clear or empty (the stomach or intestines) by causing vomiting or a forced movement of the bowels.

n. [countable]

5. the act or process of purging.
6. the removal of members of an organization who are considered disloyal or otherwise undesirable.
7. Drugs something that purges, as a medicine.

purg•er, n. [countable] See -pur-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

purge  (pûrj), v., purged, purg•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable;
   cleanse;
   purify.
2. to rid, clear, or free (usually fol. by of or from):
   to purge a political party of disloyal members.
3. to clear of imputed guilt or ritual uncleanliness.
4. to clear away or wipe out legally (an offense, accusation, etc.) by atonement or other suitable action.
5. to remove by cleansing or purifying (often fol. by away, off, or out).
6. Physiology, Medicine to clear or empty (the bowels) by causing evacuation.
7. Physiology, Medicine to cause evacuation of the bowels of (a person).
8. to put to death or otherwise eliminate (undesirable or unwanted members) from a political organization, government, nation, etc.
9. Metallurgy
   • to drive off (undesirable gases) from a furnace or stove.
   • to free (a furnace or stove) of undesirable gases.

v.i. 

10. to become cleansed or purified.
11. Medicine to undergo or cause purging of the bowels.

n. 

12. the act or process of purging.
13. the removal or elimination of members of a political organization, government, nation, etc., who are considered disloyal or otherwise undesirable.
14. Drugs something that purges, as a purgative medicine or dose.

• Old French, derivative of the verb, verbal
• Latin pūrgāre to cleanse; (noun, nominal) Middle English
• Old French purg(i)er
• (verb, verbal) Middle English purgen 1250–1300

purge′a•ble, adj. 
purg′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 8. oust, liquidate, extirpate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

purge / pɜːdʒ/ verb

1. (transitive) to rid (something) of (impure or undesirable elements)
2. (transitive) to rid (a state, political party, etc) of (dissident or troublesome people)
3. (transitive) to empty (the bowels) by evacuation of faeces
4. to cause (a person) to evacuate his or her bowels
5. to clear (a person) of a charge
6. to free (oneself) of guilt, as by atonement
7. (intransitive) to be cleansed or purified

noun

1. the act or process of purging
2. the elimination of opponents or dissidents from a state, political party, etc
3. a purgative drug or agent; cathartic

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French purger, from Latin pūrgāre to purify