purely imaginary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "purely imaginary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing concepts, ideas, or numbers that do not have a real or tangible existence, often in mathematics or philosophy. Example: "In the realm of complex numbers, the square root of a negative number is purely imaginary."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Purely imaginary ones.

The New Yorker

It was a pleasant feeling, though purely imaginary.

The New York Times - Food

Many of her landscapes are composites of real places, but others are purely imaginary.

The New York Times

In Robert Jessel's lively tableaux, imaginary space is populated by expressionistically animated objects, some recognizable and others purely imaginary.

The New York Times

-- purely imaginary, as my family, with three children from 15 months to 11 years, could never survive such a trip.

The New York Times - Travel

He then, in reaction, has a passionate affair with a married woman, Clara Dawes, in what is the only purely imaginary part of the novel.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The historical resonances that we think we hear echoing from the masonry may be purely imaginary, but they are strong enough so that they become quasi-physical sensations.

The New Yorker

In these takes, the metaphorical notion of the public image and the self-image (two kinds of images that are purely imaginary) take form in the onscreen image.

The New Yorker

Dionysus was then conveyed by the god Hermes to be brought up by the bacchantes (maenads, or thyiads) of Nysa, a purely imaginary spot.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As with most of their kaleidoscopic work, they admit that their interpretation of the world's second-largest continent is "secondhand and purely imaginary".

The New York Times

It is a sign of the success of the European Union that such scenes seem now to belong to the realm of the purely imaginary.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing mathematical or scientific concepts, use "purely imaginary" to denote values or entities that exist only in the imaginary number system and lack a real component. This ensures clarity and precision in technical writing.

Common error

Avoid using "purely imaginary" when you mean something is hypothetical or speculative. "Purely imaginary" has a specific meaning related to complex numbers in mathematics, while 'hypothetical' applies to scenarios or ideas that are proposed for consideration but not necessarily based on mathematical principles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "purely imaginary" functions as an adjectival modifier, primarily used to describe nouns related to mathematical or conceptual entities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "purely imaginary" is grammatically correct and very commonly used, primarily in scientific, mathematical, and general contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase accurately describes something existing solely in imagination or as a mathematical concept with no real component. While "purely imaginary" is frequently encountered in scientific and news domains, related phrases like "entirely fictitious" or "completely unreal" may serve as alternatives in more general applications. Remember to avoid interchanging it with similar sounding terms like 'hypothetical', specially in mathematical contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wholly imaginary

Changes "purely" to "wholly", emphasizing the completeness of the imaginary aspect.

absolutely imaginary

Emphasizes the complete lack of reality using "absolutely" instead of "purely".

entirely imaginary

Replaces "purely" with "entirely", indicating the completeness of the imaginary aspect.

totally imaginary

Similar to "absolutely imaginary", but uses "totally" for emphasis.

completely imaginary

Uses "completely" as a synonym for "purely", indicating full extent.

strictly imaginary

Replaces "purely" with "strictly", suggesting a precise adherence to the imaginary condition.

only imaginary

Uses "only" to underscore that the characteristic is exclusively imaginary.

fundamentally imaginary

Emphasizes the foundational nature of the imaginary aspect.

just imaginary

Substitutes "purely" with "just", conveying a sense of exclusiveness.

purely fantasy

Substitutes "imaginary" with "fantasy", highlighting a more whimsical or creative aspect.

FAQs

How is "purely imaginary" used in mathematics?

In mathematics, "purely imaginary" describes a complex number with a real part equal to zero. For instance, 5i is a purely imaginary number, where 'i' is the imaginary unit (√-1).

What's the difference between "purely imaginary" and "complex number"?

A complex number has both a real and an imaginary part (a + bi), whereas a "purely imaginary" number has only an imaginary part (bi), with the real part being zero.

Can "purely imaginary" apply to concepts outside of mathematics?

While primarily used in mathematics, "purely imaginary" can metaphorically describe concepts that are divorced from reality or have no tangible basis. However, use it carefully in non-mathematical contexts to avoid confusion.

What can I say instead of "purely imaginary" in a general context?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "entirely fictitious", "completely unreal", or "purely conceptual" to convey a similar meaning without the mathematical connotation of "purely imaginary".