Hell vs. Purgatory — What's the Difference?

A place of eternal punishment and separation from God.

A temporary state of purification for souls destined for Heaven.

An underworld realm depicted in various religious traditions.

A theological concept of hope and second chances.

A state of immense suffering.

A concept primarily in Roman Catholic theology.

An expression denoting a terrible situation.

A place of temporary suffering.

The abode of condemned souls and devils.

A transitory condition of the soul.

In religion and folklore, hell is an afterlife location in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, often torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as eternal destinations, the biggest examples of which are Christianity and Islam, whereas religions with reincarnation usually depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations, as is the case in the dharmic religions.

Purgatory (Latin: purgatorium, borrowed into English via Anglo-Norman and Old French) is, according to the belief of some Christians (mostly Catholics), an intermediate state after physical death for expiatory purification. The process of purgatory is the final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.

A place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often traditionally depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth where the wicked are punished after death

(in Catholic doctrine) a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven

Used for emphasis or to express anger, contempt, or surprise

Having the quality of cleansing or purifying

Often Hell The place of eternal punishment for the wicked after death, often imagined as being presided over by Satan and his devils.

Roman Catholic Church A state in which the souls of those who have died in grace must expiate their sins.

A state of separation from God; exclusion from God's presence.

A place or condition of suffering, expiation, or remorse

The abode of the dead in any of various religious traditions, such as the Hebrew Sheol or the Greek Hades; the underworld.

Tending to cleanse or purge.

A situation or place of evil, misery, discord, or destruction

(Christianity) Purgatory

An extremely difficult experience; torment or anguish

Any situation where suffering is endured, particularly as part of a process of redemption.

The spirits in hell or the powers of evil

Tending to cleanse; expiatory.

(Informal) One that causes trouble, agony, or annoyance

Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory.

A sharp scolding

A state or place of purification after death; according to the Roman Catholic creed, a place, or a state believed to exist after death, in which the souls of persons are purified by expiating such offenses committed in this life as do not merit eternal damnation, or in which they fully satisfy the justice of God for sins that have been forgiven. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are believed to be received into heaven.

A tailor's receptacle for discarded material.

A temporary condition of torment or suffering;

(Printing) A hellbox.

(theology) in Roman Catholic theology the place where those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins

An outstanding or noteworthy example

Used as an intensive

Used for intensive effect in idioms such as beat the hell out of (someone) for beat (someone) very badly.

(Archaic) A gambling house.

To behave riotously; carouse

Used to express anger, disgust, or impatience.

A place of torment where some or all sinners and evil spirits are believed to go after death.

A place or situation of great suffering in life.

(countable) A place for gambling.

(figuratively) An extremely hot place.

Used as an intensifier in phrases grammatically requiring a noun.

(obsolete) A place into which a tailor throws shreds, or a printer discards broken type.

Something extremely painful or harmful (to)

Used to express discontent, unhappiness, or anger.

Used to emphasize.

Used to introduce an intensified statement following an understated one; nay; not only that, but.

(postpositional) nodot=a or like hell.

To add luster to; to burnish (silver or gold).

(rare) To pour.

The place of the dead, or of souls after death; the grave; - called in Hebrew sheol, and by the Greeks hades.

The place or state of punishment for the wicked after death; the abode of evil spirits. Hence, any mental torment; anguish.

A place where outcast persons or things are gathered

To overwhelm.

Any place of pain and turmoil;

A cause of difficulty and suffering;

(Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment;

(religion) the world of the dead;

Violent and excited activity;

Noisy and unrestrained mischief;

No, it's a temporary state.

Souls judged unworthy of salvation, according to various religious doctrines.

Purgatory is a temporary state for the purification of souls.

Hell is considered a place of eternal torment and separation from God.

Souls that require purification before entering Heaven, in Roman Catholic belief.

Yes, according to most religious doctrines that include Hell.

To serve as eternal punishment for the damned.

No, the concept varies among religious traditions.

Traditionally considered a place, but interpretations vary.

No, it's mainly a Roman Catholic concept.

Often with purifying fire.

More commonly considered a state, not a place.

To purify souls for Heaven.

Often with fire, brimstone, and demons.

Hell, usually no; Purgatory, yes—upon purification.