purge

verb

/pɜːdʒ/

/pɜːrdʒ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they purge	/pɜːdʒ/ /pɜːrdʒ/
he / she / it purges	/ˈpɜːdʒɪz/ /ˈpɜːrdʒɪz/
past simple purged	/pɜːdʒd/ /pɜːrdʒd/
past participle purged	/pɜːdʒd/ /pɜːrdʒd/
-ing form purging	/ˈpɜːdʒɪŋ/ /ˈpɜːrdʒɪŋ/

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to remove people from an organization, often violently, because their opinions or activities are unacceptable to the people in power
- purge something (of somebody) His first act as leader was to purge the party of extremists.
- purge somebody (from something) He purged extremists from the party.
(formal) to make yourself/somebody/something pure, healthy or clean by getting rid of bad thoughts or feelings
- purge yourself/somebody/something (of something) We need to purge our sport of racism.
- purge something (from something) Nothing could purge the guilt from her mind.

Word OriginMiddle English (in the legal sense ‘clear oneself of a charge’): from Old French purgier, from Latin purgare ‘purify’, from purus ‘pure’.

noun

/pɜːdʒ/

/pɜːrdʒ/

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the act of removing people, often violently, from an organization because their views are unacceptable to the people who have power
- A purge of the party was ordered.
- the Stalinist purges
- The prime minister carried out a purge of ministers sympathetic to reform.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the legal sense ‘clear oneself of a charge’): from Old French purgier, from Latin purgare ‘purify’, from purus ‘pure’.