Phrase guide

pure mathematics

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The study of mathematical concepts independently of applications outside mathematics.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • 1983, B. D. Bunday, H. Mulholland, Pure Mathematics for Advanced Level, Butterworths, 2nd Edition, page v, Since the first edition was published there have been changes in the content of the pure mathematics syllabuses of the various examining boards.
  • 2010, Martin Liebeck, A Concise Introduction to Pure Mathematics, Taylor & Chapman (CRC Press: Chapman & Hall), 3rd Edition, page xii, When starting to study pure mathematics at university, students often have a refreshing sense of "beginning all over again."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the branches of mathematics that study and develop the principles of mathematics for their own sake rather than for their immediate usefulness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mathematics, math, maths

Narrower terms: arithmetic, geometry, numerical analysis, trigonometry, trig, algebra, calculus, infinitesimal calculus, set theory, group theory, topology, analysis situs, metamathematics

History

Etymology

An early usage, from 1746, is in the title of the position Sadlerian Lecturer of Pure Mathematics (later "Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics").

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 純粹數學 /纯粹数学 (chúncuì shùxué) — area of mathematics
  • Czech: čistá matematika — area of mathematics
  • Danish: ren matematik — area of mathematics
  • Dutch: zuivere wiskunde — area of mathematics
  • Finnish: puhdas matematiikka — area of mathematics
  • French: mathématiques pures — area of mathematics
  • Georgian: წმინდა მათემატიკა (c̣minda matemaṭiḳa) — area of mathematics
  • German: reine Mathematik — area of mathematics
  • Hindi: शुद्ध गणित (śuddh gaṇit) — area of mathematics
  • Hungarian: elméleti matematika — area of mathematics
  • Icelandic: hrein stærðfræði — area of mathematics
  • Indonesian: matematika murni — area of mathematics
  • Italian: matematica pura — area of mathematics
  • Japanese: 純粋数学 (junsui sūgaku) — area of mathematics
  • Malay: matematik tulen — area of mathematics
  • Norwegian: ren matematikk — area of mathematics
  • Polish: matematyka czysta — area of mathematics
  • Portuguese: matemática pura — area of mathematics
  • Romanian: matematică pură — area of mathematics
  • Spanish: matemáticas puras — area of mathematics
  • Swedish: ren matematik — area of mathematics
  • Tagalog: tagnas na sipnayan — area of mathematics
  • Vietnamese: toán học thuần tuý — area of mathematics
  • Welsh: mathemateg bur — area of mathematics