The act or process of cleaning or purifying something. The cleansing of the river took several months to complete.
A ritual or ceremonial act intended to purify or rid of impurities. The cleansing was an important part of the religious ceremony.
The systematic removal of members of an ethnic or religious group from a particular area, often involving violence or intimidation. International observers reported that the cleansing of the minority population was continuing despite the ceasefire.