chemtrail

noun

chem·​trail ˈkem-ˌtrāl How to pronounce chemtrail (audio)
plural chemtrails
: a long-lasting airplane contrail believed to be composed of harmful chemical or biological agents that are dispersed as part of a conspiracy (as to manipulate the environment or the population)
In a … study of the public's belief in conspiracy theories, … 12% said world governments use chemtrails to secretly poison their people.Chas Newkey-Burden
Airplane contrails have probably gotten more than their fair share of attention over the years. In particular, they've provided consistent fodder for conspiracy theorists convinced that condensation trails are actually "chemtrails" resulting from secret government chemical spraying programs.Earth Island Journal
According to myriad conspiracy theories, some of those "harmless" vapors are instead sinister "chemtrails." … Some say the cloudy lines are part of government weather-controlling experiments; others say that they're a form of germ warfare.Benjamin Radford

Examples of chemtrail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
As myths about Milton and Helene spread, interest in chemtrails increased too on Google search and social media. Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, 10 Oct. 2024 Unfortunately, there has been a rash of conspiracy theories around HAARP, chemtrails, cloud seeding and other nonsense. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 In recent years, some chemtrails conspiracy theories have evolved, with believers suggesting that contrails are actually aerosols designed to control the weather or the climate. Evan Bush, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024 Yet the conspiracy has seemed to piggyback off of other unfounded theories, such as chemtrails. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Other calls accuse the agency of causing chemtrails — a conspiracy theory claiming that condensation trials left behind by airplanes are toxic chemicals being sprayed on people for some unspecified nefarious reason. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024 But Boots had more obscure conspiracies on her mind: chemtrails, ancient giants. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2024 Claims purporting to prove chemtrails exist have been repeatedly debunked by USA TODAY and other fact-checkers. Isabella Fertel, USA TODAY, 8 June 2023 False claim geoengineering is behind climate change USA TODAY, Aug. 16, 2016, Scientists disprove airplane 'chemtrail' theory Thank you for supporting our journalism. Isabella Fertel, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chemtrail was in 1990

Dictionary Entries Near chemtrail

Cite this Entry

“Chemtrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chemtrail. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!