aerosol

noun

aero·​sol ˈer-ə-ˌsäl  -ˌsȯl 

1

: a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas

Smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols.

airborne aerosol transmission of infective viral particles

also, aerosols plural : the fine particles of an aerosol

stratospheric aerosols

2

: a substance (such as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol

also : the container for this

Examples of aerosol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Using advanced climate models, researchers simulated how the sharp drop in aerosols affected global temperatures. —Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025

The products are heated by an e-cigarette to create an inhalable aerosol. —Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 3 Apr. 2025

Hubble Telescope finds more questions than answers Notably, aerosols near the north pole became brighter, especially in recent years as the planet approached its northern summer, according to the statement. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2025

While it is not yet known what was in the aerosol spray can, the caretaker told the Anchorage Daily News the spray could have been some kind of cleaning spray or an insecticide. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

aero- + -sol (in hydrosol)

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aerosol

• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• catarrhal
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

aerosol

noun

aero·​sol ˈar-ə-ˌsäl  ˈer- 

-ˌsȯl

: a mixture of fine solid or liquid particles and gas

smoke and fog are aerosols

Medical Definition

aerosol

noun

aero·​sol ˈar-ə-ˌsäl  ˈer- 

-ˌsȯl

1

: a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas

smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols

2

: a substance (as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol

also : the container for this