noun
purgatory
PUR-guh-tor-ee/ˈpɜːrɡətɔːri/
A temporary state of purification after death in some Christian beliefs.
In Catholic teaching, souls in purgatory undergo purification before entering heaven.
Etymology
A ‘means of cleansing’ became the condition of spiritual purification before entry into Heaven. That temporary suffering supplied the image for a figurative state of emotional distress or painful waiting.
In context
Purgatory in Catholic belief is kind of like a giant waiting room while the upper management figures out just where exactly they're going to find a good spot that's best for you
More examples
- She prays for the souls in purgatory.
- The priest explains why purgatory is temporary rather than eternal.
- The class compares beliefs about purgatory across Christian traditions.
Forms
purgatory
purgatorial adjective — Relating to spiritual purification in purgatory.