/ pɜːdʒ; NAmE pɜːrdʒ/ verb , noun
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
purge sth (of sb) | purge sb (from sth) to remove people from an organization, often violently, because their opinions or activities are unacceptable to the people in power :
His first act as leader was to purge the party of extremists.
He purged extremists from the party.
2.
purge yourself / sb / sth (of sth) | purge sth (from sth) ( formal ) to make yourself/sb/sth pure, healthy or clean by getting rid of bad thoughts or feelings :
We need to purge our sport of racism.
Nothing could purge the guilt from her mind.
■ noun
the act of removing people, often violently, from an organization because their views are unacceptable to the people who have power
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the legal sense clear oneself of a charge ): from Old French purgier , from Latin purgare purify, from purus pure.