effluvium

noun

ef·​flu·​vi·​um e-ˈflü-vē-əm 

variants or less commonly effluvia

e-ˈflü-vē-ə 

plural effluvia also effluviums

1

: an invisible emanation

especially : an offensive exhalation or smell

2

: a by-product especially in the form of waste

Synonyms

• chaff
• deadwood
• debris
• dreck
• drek
• dross
• dust
• garbage
• junk
• litter
• offal
• offscouring
• raffle
• refuse
• riffraff
• rubbish
• scrap
• spilth
• trash
• truck
• waste

Examples of effluvium in a Sentence

the effluvia from local sewage treatment plants polluting the river

Word History

Etymology

Latin effluvium act of flowing out, from effluere

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for effluvium

• alluvium
• colluvium

Medical Definition

effluvium

noun

ef·​flu·​vi·​um e-ˈflü-vē-əm 

plural effluvia -vē-ə  or effluviums

: an invisible emanation

especially : an offensive exhalation or smell

—the form effluvia often used with a singular verb