Abstract: A method for the purification of lactide is provided which permits lactide of high optical purity or DL-lactide of high purity to be produced from crude lactide by the removal of meso-lactide from the crude lactide. This method for the purification of lactide is characterized by causing a mixture containing L-lactide and/or D-lactide together with meso-lactide to contact with water thereby effecting hydrolysis of meso-lactide. This method can remove meso-lactide from crude lactide and produce DL-lactide and/or optically active lactide of high optical purity in high yield and, in the production of optically active lactide, can eliminate the restrictions otherwise imposed on the formation of meso-lactide. Thus, it lends itself to the simplification of the procedure for the synthesis of lactide.