Meanings
- uncountableThe study of mathematical concepts independently of applications outside mathematics.
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.
2 more examples
This book is the result of an attempt to bring between two covers a wide region of pure mathematics.
1913, Arthur Lyon Bowley, A General Course of Pure Mathematics, Oxford University Press (Clarendon Press), page iii2010, 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."
Synonyms: pure maths
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe study of mathematical concepts independently of applications outside mathematics.
Origin
An early usage, from 1746, is in the title of the position Sadlerian Lecturer of Pure Mathematics (later "Sadleirian Professor of Pure Mathematics").
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 純粹數學 /纯粹数学, 純數學 /纯数学
- 純粹數學 /纯粹数学 (chúncuì shùxué)area of mathematics
- 純數學 /纯数学 (chúnshùxué)area of mathematics
- 純數 /纯数 (chúnshù)area of mathematics
Czech čistá matematika
- čistá matematikaarea of mathematics
Danish ren matematik
- ren matematikarea of mathematics
Dutch zuivere wiskunde
- zuivere wiskundearea of mathematics
Finnish puhdas matematiikka
- puhdas matematiikkaarea of mathematics
French mathématiques pures
- mathématiques puresarea of mathematics
German reine Mathematik
- reine Mathematikarea of mathematics
Hindi शुद्ध गणित
- शुद्ध गणित (śuddh gaṇit)area of mathematics
Hungarian elméleti matematika
- elméleti matematikaarea of mathematics
Icelandic hrein stærðfræði
- hrein stærðfræðiarea of mathematics
Indonesian matematika murni
- matematika murniarea of mathematics
Italian matematica pura
- matematica puraarea of mathematics
Japanese 純粋数学
- 純粋数学 (junsui sūgaku)area of mathematics
Malay matematik tulen
- matematik tulenarea of mathematics
Norwegian ren matematikk
- ren matematikkarea of mathematics
Polish matematyka czysta
- matematyka czystaarea of mathematics
Portuguese matemática pura
- matemática puraarea of mathematics
Romanian matematică pură
- matematică purăarea of mathematics
Spanish matemáticas puras
- matemáticas purasarea of mathematics
Swedish ren matematik
- ren matematikarea of mathematics
Tagalog tagnas na sipnayan
- tagnas na sipnayanarea of mathematics
Vietnamese toán học thuần tuý
- toán học thuần tuýarea of mathematics
Welsh mathemateg bur
- mathemateg burarea of mathematics
Cite this entry
pure mathematics. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pure%20mathematics
“pure mathematics.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pure%20mathematics. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pure mathematics,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pure%20mathematics.
Source: pure mathematics on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.