What does "expurgate" mean?

To edit out (incorrect, offensive, or otherwise undesirable information) from a book or other publication; to cleanse; to purge.

What is a synonym for "expurgate"?

Common synonyms include: bowdlerize, abbreviate, abridge, bleach, blot out, blue pencil.

Pronounced //ˈɛks.pɚ.ɡeɪt//.

//ˈɛks.pɚ.ɡeɪt// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Verb

1
To edit out (incorrect, offensive, or otherwise undesirable information) from a book or other publication; to cleanse; to purge. transitive
"The publisher decided to expurgate the love scene from the book, to make it more child-friendly."
2
edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate wordnet
3
To undertake editing out incorrect, offensive, or otherwise undesirable information from (a book or other publication); to cleanse; to purge. transitive
"The publisher decided to expurgate the book, which meant removing the love scene."

"The publisher decided to expurgate the love scene from the book, to make it more child-friendly."

From Latin expurgātus, perfect passive participle of expurgō (“purge, cleanse, purify”).

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.