purge

noun PYURZH Rare

Origin: Latin 'purga', from 'purgare', to cleanse.

Also means

purging

Usage Note

Purge can refer to a political purge (mass removal of opponents), a medical purge (laxative treatment), or a technical purge (clearing a pipe or system). The verb form purger covers all the same senses. In political history, Stalin's grandes purges are the iconic reference point for the word in French.

Examples

"La purge politique a touché des milliers de personnes."

Natural Translation

The political purge affected thousands of people.

Related Words

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