immaculate

im·ma·cul·ate
I1M3M3A1C3U1L1A1T1E1
UK/ɪˈmækjʊlət/US/ɪˈmæk.jʊ.lət/US/ᵻˈmæk.jə.lət/

adjective

Having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy.

Similar
clearlily-whitespotlessstainlessunsulliedcleanclean as a beanclean as a hound's tooth
Opposite
maculateunimmaculatestaineddirtybefouled
OriginMiddle English immaculat ← Latin immaculātus ← Proto-Indo-European *smh₂-tló-m →
Less commonScrabble 16
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Word of the Day · Oct 11, 2026

Meanings

adjectiveimmaculate (comparative more immaculate, superlative most immaculate)

comparative more immaculate · superlative most immaculate

  1. Having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy.

    So in immaculate clothes, and Symetrie / Perfect as circles, vvith ſuch nicetie / As a young Preacher at his firſt time goes / To preach, he enters, […]

    p. 1597, J[ohn] Donne, “Satyre IIII”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Iohn Marriot, […], published 1633, →OCLC, page 344
    3 more examples

    O loyall Father, of a treacherous Sonne, / Thou ſheere immaculate and ſiluer Fountaine, / From vvhence this ſtreame, through muddy paſſages, / Hath held his current, and defild himſelfe.

    1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], signature I2, recto

    So firſt to preach a vvhite-glov'd Chaplain goes, / VVith Band of Lily, and vvith Cheek of Roſe, / Svveeter than Sharon, in immaculate trim, / Neatneſs itſelf impertinent in him.

    1733, “an Eminent Hand” [pseudonym; Alexander Pope], The Impertinent, or A Visit to the Court. A Satyr. […], London: […] John Wil[f]ord, […], →OCLC, page 15

    Every rustle of her silvery silk gown, every fold of the snowy kerchief on her neck, every plait of her immaculate cap, spoke a soul long retired from this world and its cares.

    1856, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The Gordon Family”, in Dred; a Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson and Company, →OCLC, page 52

    Synonyms: clear, lily-white, spotless, stainless, unsullied, clean, clean as a bean, clean as a hound's tooth · Antonyms: maculate, unimmaculate, stained, dirty, befouled, besmirched, clarty, cruddy

  2. figurativelyContaining no mistakes; free from fault.

    Synonyms: flawless, impeccable, perfect, unblemished, faultless, perfect · Antonyms: unimmaculate, flawed, imperfect

    1. figurativelyspecificallyOf a book, manuscript, etc.: having no textual errors.

      Synonyms: flawless, impeccable, perfect, unblemished, faultless, perfect · Antonyms: unimmaculate, flawed, imperfect

  3. archaicfigurativelyFree from sin; morally pure; sinless.

    Take not thy flight ſo ſoone immaculate ſpirit.

    c. 1624–1625 (date written), Philip Massinger, The Vnnaturall Combat. A Tragedie. […], London: […] E[dward] G[riffin] for Iohn Waterson, […], published 1639, →OCLC, Act V, scene ii, signature [K4], verso
    5 more examples

    Were but my ſoul as pure / From other guilts as that, Heaven did not hold / One more immaculate.

    1641 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act V, page 86

    And this Life is pure and immaculate Love, and this Love is God, as he is communicable unto man, and is the ſole Life and Eſſence of Vertue truly ſo called; […]

    1653, Henry More, “The Defence of the Threefold Cabbala. The Defence of the Moral Cabbala. Chapter III.”, in A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr Henry More […], London: […] James Flesher for William Morden, […], published 1662, →OCLC, page 177

    The VVorld's infectious; fevv bring back at Eve / Immaculate, the Manners of the Morn.

    1743, [Edward Young], “Night the Fifth. The Relapse. […]”, in The Complaint. Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality. Night the Fifth, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley […], and sold by M[ary] Cooper […], →OCLC, page 14

    Alas! vve have made a nevv faith; vve have exchanged piety for impiety; vve have betrayed the immaculate ſacrifice [of Jesus]; […]

    1788, Edward Gibbon, chapter LXVII, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume VI, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 438

    That immaculate manliness we feel within ourselves, so far within us, that it remains intact though all the outer character seem gone; bleeds with keenest anguish at the undraped spectacle of a valor-ruined man.

    1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Knights and Squires”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 127

    Synonyms: irreproachable, chaste, cherry, clean, flawless, halal, ideal, kosher · Antonyms: maculate, unimmaculate, imperfect, impure, tainted

  4. figurativelyCatholicismOf the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled.
  5. especiallybiologyLacking blotches, spots, or other markings.

    Synonyms: self-coloured, spotless, unspotted · Antonyms: maculate, maculated, spotted

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveHaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy.

Similar
clearlily-whitespotlessstainlessunsulliedcleanclean as a beanclean as a hound's toothclean as a new pennyclean as a new pinclean as a whistlepristinespick-and-spanspotlesssqueaky cleanstainlessunsoiledunsullied
Opposite
maculateunimmaculatestaineddirtybefouledbesmirchedclartycruddydirtsomedirtyfoulgrottygrubbyhorryickylousymankynastyseamysoiled

adjectiveContaining no mistakes; free from fault.

Similar
flawlessimpeccableperfectunblemishedfaultlessperfect
Opposite
unimmaculateflawedimperfect

adjectiveOf a book, manuscript, etc.: having no textual errors.

Similar
flawlessimpeccableperfectunblemishedfaultlessperfect
Opposite
unimmaculateflawedimperfect

adjectiveFree from sin; morally pure; sinless.

Similar
irreproachablechastecherrycleanflawlesshalalidealkoshermerenaturalperfectpristinepuresimon-pureunadulteratedunalloyeduncontaminatedundefiledunpolluted
Opposite
maculateunimmaculateimperfectimpuretainted

adjectiveLacking blotches, spots, or other markings.

Similar
self-colouredspotlessunspotted
Opposite
maculatemaculatedspotted

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivecompletely neat and clean

Similar
specklessspick-and-spanspic-and-spanspicspickspotlessclean

adjectivefree from stain or blemish

Similar
undefiledpure

adjectivewithout fault or error

Similar
faultlessimpeccableincorruptedperfect
Also see
cleanclean as a hound's toothclean as a whistleexcellentfaultlessflawlessimpeccablemerepristinepurespecklessspicspickspick-and-spanspotlesssqueaky cleanunalloyedunbesmirchedundefiledunsullied

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*smh₂-tló-m“wiping (?)”
  2. Latinimmaculātus“unstained”
  3. Middle Englishimmaculat
  4. Englishimmaculate

From Late Middle English immaculat, immaculate (“blameless; flawless, spotless; specifically of the Virgin Mary: pure, undefiled”), borrowed from Latin immaculātus (“unstained”), from im- (negative prefix) + maculātus (“stained, spotted; defiled, polluted; (figurative) dishonoured”), the perfect passive participle of maculō (“to spot, stain; to defile, pollute; (figurative) to dishonour”), from macula (“a blemish, spot, stain; (figurative) blot on one’s character, fault”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *smh₂-tló-m (“wiping (?)”), from *smeh₂- (“to rub; to smear”). The word displaced Middle English unwemmed (“pure, untainted”). See also -ate (adjective-forming suffix). By surface analysis, im- + macule + -ate. Cognates * Catalan immaculat * Italian immacolato, immaculato (obsolete) * Middle French immaculé (modern French immaculé) * Portuguese imaculado * Spanish inmaculado

More words from Middle English, Latin, Proto-Indo-European

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans vlekkeloos, foutloos
  • vlekkelooshaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • foutloosof a book, manuscript, etc.: having no textual errors
  • onbevlekteof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • perfekcontaining no mistakes — see also flawless
  • foutlooscontaining no mistakes — see also flawless
Ancient Greek ἄχραντος, πᾰνάχραντος
  • ἄχραντος (ákhrantos)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • πᾰνάχραντος (pănákhrantos)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • πᾰνάχραντος (pănákhrantos)of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Arabic مُنَزَّه
  • مُنَزَّه (munazzah)of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Basque garbia
  • garbiaof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Bengali অকল্ক, অকলঙ্ক
  • অকল্ক (okolko)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • অকলঙ্ক (okoloṅko)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
Bulgarian безупречен, чист
  • безупречен (bezuprečen)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • чист (čist)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • неопетнен (neopetnen)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • пре́чист (préčist)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
Catalan immaculat, immaculada
  • immaculathaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • immaculadaof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Chinese Mandarin 純潔的 /纯洁的, 無瑕疵的 /无瑕疵的
  • 純潔的 /纯洁的 (chúnjiéde)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • 無瑕疵的 /无瑕疵的 (wúxiácīde)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • 一塵不染 /一尘不染 (yīchénbùrǎn)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • 整潔 /整洁 (zhěngjié)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • 無染原罪 /无染原罪 (wúrǎnyuánzuì)of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Czech neposkvrněný, bezchybný
  • neposkvrněnýhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • bezchybnýof a book, manuscript, etc.: having no textual errors
  • bezchybnáof a book, manuscript, etc.: having no textual errors
  • bezchybnéof a book, manuscript, etc.: having no textual errors
  • neposkvrněnéof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Danish pletfri, ubesmittede
  • pletfrihaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • ubesmittedeof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Dutch brandschoon, vlekkeloos
  • brandschoonhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • vlekkelooshaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • onbevlekteof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Esperanto senmakula
  • senmakulaof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Finnish puhtoinen, viaton
  • puhtoinenhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • viatonhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • virheetönhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • virheetönof a book, manuscript, etc.: having no textual errors
  • immaculataof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • perisynnitönof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • täplätönlacking blotches, spots, or other markings — see also unspotted
  • yksivärinenlacking blotches, spots, or other markings — see also unspotted
  • moitteetoncontaining no mistakes — see also flawless
French immaculé, acribique
  • immaculéhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • acribiquehaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • recherchéhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • soignéhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • immaculéof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
German makellos, unbefleckt
  • makelloshaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • unbefleckthaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • unbefleckteof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • einfarbiglacking blotches, spots, or other markings — see also unspotted
  • makelloscontaining no mistakes — see also flawless
  • perfectcontaining no mistakes — see also flawless
Greek αψεγάδιαστος, άψογος
  • αψεγάδιαστος (apsegádiastos)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • άψογος (ápsogos)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • άσπιλος (áspilos)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • άμωμος (ámomos)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • άμωμος (ámomos)of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Hawaiian hemolele
  • hemolelecontaining no mistakes — see also flawless
Hungarian makulátlan, szeplőtelen
  • makulátlanhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • szeplőtelenhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • szeplőtlenhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • tisztahaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • szeplőtelenof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • makulátlancontaining no mistakes — see also flawless
Icelandic flekklaus
  • flekklaushaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
Italian immacolato, immacolata
  • immacolatohaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • immacolataof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Japanese 無原罪
  • 無原罪 (mu genzai)of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Korean 원죄 없는, 완벽하다
  • 원죄 없는 (wonjoe eomneun)of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • 완벽하다 (wanbyeokhada)containing no mistakes — see also flawless
Latin immaculāta
  • immaculātaof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Latvian šķīsts
  • šķīstshaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
Lithuanian tvarki̇̀ngas
  • tvarki̇̀ngashaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
Māori parakore
  • parakorehaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
Norwegian Bokmål ubesmittede
  • ubesmittedeof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Polish niepokalany, niepokalanym
  • niepokalanyhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • niepokalanymof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Portuguese imaculado, ilibado
  • imaculadohaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • ilibadohaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • impecávelhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • imaculadaof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Romanian imaculat, dalb
  • imaculathaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • dalbhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • imishaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • preacurathaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • imaculatăof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • precistăof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Russian чи́стенький, непоро́чное
  • чи́стенький (čístenʹkij)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • непоро́чное (neporóčnoje)of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • однотонный (odnotonnyj)lacking blotches, spots, or other markings — see also unspotted
  • безоши́бочный (bezošíbočnyj)containing no mistakes — see also flawless
  • соверше́нный (soveršénnyj)containing no mistakes — see also flawless
Spanish inmaculado, inmaculada
  • inmaculadohaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • inmaculadaof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Swedish fläckfri, obefläckad
  • fläckfrihaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • obefläckadhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • obefläckadof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Tagalog inmakulada, busilak
  • inmakuladahaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • busilakhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
Thai วิมล, วิมล
  • วิมล (wí-mon)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • วิมล (wí-mon)containing no mistakes — see also flawless
Turkish kusursuz, lekesiz
  • kusursuzhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • lekesizhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • günahsızlığıof the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
Ukrainian чистий, незаплямований
  • чистий (čystyj)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • незаплямований (nezapljamovanyj)having no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • непоро́чне (neporóčne)of the Virgin Mary or her womb: pure, undefiled — see also undefiled
  • бездоганний (bezdohannyj)containing no mistakes — see also flawless
Vietnamese phau, trong trắng
  • phauhaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • trong trắnghaving no blemish or stain; absolutely clean and tidy — see also spotless, undefiled
  • vẹn toàncontaining no mistakes — see also flawless

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with immaculate

maculate
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

immaculate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/immaculate

MLA

“immaculate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/immaculate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “immaculate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/immaculate.

Source: immaculate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.