Purgatory vs. Limbo — What's the Difference?

An intermediate state before final reckoning or judgment.

An intermediate or transitional state or place.

A state in which the souls of those who have died in grace undergo limited torment.

A dance or game where participants lean backward to pass under a bar.

An intermediate state after death for purification from sin.

A situation in which progress is impossible.

A place or state of temporary suffering or misery.

A place in some Christian beliefs for unbaptized souls.

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.

In Catholic theology, Limbo (Latin limbus, edge or boundary, referring to the edge of Hell) is the viewpoint concerning the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the Damned. Medieval theologians of Western Europe described the underworld ("hell", "hades", "infernum") as divided into four distinct parts: Hell of the Damned, Purgatory, Limbo of the Fathers or Patriarchs, and Limbo of the Infants.

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

Often Limbo Roman Catholic Church The abode of unbaptized but innocent or righteous souls, as those of infants or virtuous individuals who lived before the coming of Christ.

Having the quality of cleansing or purifying

A condition of prolonged uncertainty or neglect

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

A West Indian dance in which the dancers repeatedly bend over backward and pass under a pole that is lowered slightly with each pass.

A place or condition of suffering, expiation, or remorse

To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status.

Tending to cleanse or purge.

(dances) To dance the limbo (etymology 2, dance).

(Christianity) Purgatory

(by extension) Often followed by under: to pass under something while bending backwards.

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

The place, thought to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or limbo of the patriarchs or fathers) and those of unbaptized infants (who occupy the limbo infantum or limbo of the infants); (countable) the place where each category of souls exists, regarded separately.

Tending to cleanse; expiatory.

(by extension)

Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory.

Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status.

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.

Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup.

A temporary condition of torment or suffering;

Synonym of Hadesor Hell

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

Synonym of pawn

A process of purification or temporary punishment.

A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels.

A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling down.

An spiritual region where certain classes of souls were supposed to await the last judgment.

Hence: Any real or imaginary place of restraint or confinement; a prison; as, to put a man in limbo.

A state of waiting, or uncertainty, in which final judgment concerning the outcome of a decision is postponed, perhaps indefinitely; neglect for an indefinite time; as, the proposal was left in limbo while opponents and proponents refused to compromise.

A border or margin; as, the limbus of the cornea.

A West Indian dance contest, in which participants must dance under a pole which is lowered successively until only one participant can successfully pass under, without falling. It is often performed at celebrations, such as weddings.

The state of being disregarded or forgotten

An imaginary place for lost or neglected things

(theology) in Roman Catholicism, the place of unbaptized but innocent or righteous souls (such as infants and virtuous individuals)

A state of uncertainty or oblivion.

No, the concept of purgatory is primarily associated with Catholicism and is not universally accepted among all Christian denominations.

Yes, souls in purgatory are believed to eventually enter heaven after purification.

Yes, "in limbo" can describe any situation of uncertainty or indecision.

Purgatory is for soul purification after death, while limbo is a state of uncertainty or where unbaptized souls reside.

While both concepts exist in Catholicism, purgatory is a more universally accepted doctrine than limbo.

In religious context, it's uncertain; in secular usage, it implies an indefinite state of waiting.

Yes, projects "in limbo" are in a state of uncertainty or waiting.

According to Catholic doctrine, only souls that aren't perfectly cleansed of venial sins but are in a state of grace undergo purification in purgatory.

It has roots in biblical scriptures and has been developed and defined over time by church theologians.

In some theological interpretations, yes, limbo is considered the edge of Hell.

It's more of a purification process for souls already destined for heaven, not a second chance for damnation reversal.

Yes, in Catholic belief, prayers can aid souls in their purification process.

While specific beliefs vary, similar concepts of an intermediate state post-death exist in other religions.

Purgatory is a temporary state before heaven, while limbo, in some beliefs, is an edge of Hell or a separate state altogether.

No, it's described as a state without suffering but also without the joy of God's presence.