1. the act or process of purging or cleansing, especially of the bowels through the use of laxatives
Usage: medical; formal
2. spiritual or moral cleansing; purification from sin or guilt
Usage: religious; formal

Examples

• The doctor recommended several purgations to cleanse the patient’s system.
• Medieval physicians often prescribed harsh purgations as treatment.
• The ritual included purgations to purify the soul.
• Ancient texts describe various methods of spiritual purgations.
• The medicine caused violent purgations that lasted for hours.
• Religious purgations were believed to prepare one for divine communion.