Clean vs. cleanse

What does clean mean?

Clean can be an adjective, adverb, verb or noun. Clean means to remove dirt, marks or stains from something, or to be free of impurities or irregularities. Clean can also have a moral connotation.

• Can you send me a clean copy of your novel?

• He was tested for drugs but his results came back clean.

• Can you clean that table for me?

What does cleanse mean?

Cleanse is a verb which means to make something thoroughly clean or to rid it of something unpleasant. These days cleanse is mostly used in a religious sense, such as to free someone or something of sin or guilt, or as a noun meaning the process of moral purification or bodily purification.

For example:

• The king announced he would cleanse the lands of sin.

• Have you tried to cleanse your body of negative thoughts?

What’s the difference between clean and cleanse?

Clean means to be free of impurities or irregularities, while cleanse means to make something thoroughly clean and is mostly used in a religious, moral or bodily purification sense.

For example:

• To be admitted into the secret society, you must cleanse your body of any impurities and start with a clean slate.