1. （天主教中的）炼狱
Purgatory is the place where Roman Catholics believe the spirits of dead people are sent to suffer for their sins before they go to heaven.

2. 受苦的经历；折磨；苦难
You can describe a very unpleasant experience as purgatory .

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

2. a temporary condition of torment or suffering

e.g. a purgatory of drug abuse