noun

purifier

PYOOR-uh-fye-er/ˈpjʊrɪfaɪər/

Something or someone that removes impurities.

The water purifier filters cloudy water into the clear lower reservoir.

A transparent gravity-fed water purifier with cloudy water in its upper reservoir, a visible filter cartridge between chambers, and clear filtered water collecting below.

Etymology

purLatinpure, clean

+ifiLatinto make

+erEnglishagent or instrument

The roots express “make pure,” and the agent ending identifies what does that work. Originally naming someone who purifies, purifier expanded to apparatus that removes unwanted matter.

In context

Minnesota PBS11:29

they adapted a European system into what would be known as the middling purifier this system sifted out the heavier parts of the wheat allowing for a more pure white flour

Flour Power | Full Documentary

More examples

We carry a portable water purifier on camping trips.
These purifiers help remove smoke from indoor air.
The purifier needs a new filter every three months.

Forms

purifier · purifiers

purify verb — To remove impurities from something.

purification noun — The process of removing impurities.

Similar words

filter: Removes unwanted material by passing something through a barrier.
cleaner: Usually removes dirt from surfaces rather than impurities within substances.