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impurity
This term carries a strong sense of contamination, where a single foreign element spoils the integrity of a whole. In scientific or industrial settings, it is a technical term describing a chemical deviation from a standard, often implying a defect that must be purged to ensure quality.
In moral or religious contexts, it shifts toward a feeling of stain or corruption. It describes a perceived lack of innocence or a breach of sacredness, suggesting that the subject is no longer pristine or holy.
Countable when referring to a specific foreign particle or substance found in a sample. Uncountable when referring to the general state of being contaminated or the abstract concept of uncleanness.
Meanings
Examples
The alloy failed due to a microscopic impurity.