What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
purify
Example
The water treatment plant uses chemicals to purify the water. [purify: verb]
Example
The purification process removes any impurities from the gold. [purification: noun]
refine
Example
The chef refined the recipe by adding new ingredients and adjusting the cooking time. [refined: verb]
Example
The oil refinery processes crude oil into refined petroleum products. [refined: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Refine is more commonly used than purify in everyday language. Refine is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while purify is less common and is typically used in scientific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between purify and refine?
Both purify and refine can be used in formal or technical contexts. However, purify may be considered more formal due to its scientific connotation, while refine may be considered more informal due to its artistic connotation.
