emission

noun

emis·​sion ē-ˈmi-shən 

1

a

: an act or instance of emitting : emanation

b

archaic : publication

c

: a putting into circulation

2

a

: something sent forth by emitting: such as

(1)

: electromagnetic radiation from an antenna or a celestial body

(2)

usually emissions : substances discharged into the air (as by a smokestack or an automobile engine)

b

: effluvium

emissive

ē-ˈmi-siv 

adjective

Examples of emission in a Sentence

trying to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases

Recent Examples on the Web

What space does have are energetic phenomena that create wave-like behavior, vibrations in gas clouds, and radio frequency emissions from stars and black holes. —Harshal Shah, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

Those credits weren’t set to expire until the later part of 2032 or until until carbon emissions from the US electricity sector decline to at least 75% below 2022 levels. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 May 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies the region as being in severe violation of federal ozone standards, and that requires motorists to use a special blend of gasoline in the summer to lower emissions from the millions of vehicles on the roads. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 May 2025

Also, the website reports a 33% decline in carbon monoxide emissions and a 46% decline in carbon dioxide emissions because cars are not idling, and a 20% reduction in traffic delays. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing emission

• acoustic emission
• positron-emission tomography
• re-emission
• secondary emission

Rhymes for emission

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

emission

noun

emis·​sion ē-ˈmish-ən 

1

: an act or instance of emitting

2

: something emitted or discharged

emissive

ē-ˈmis-iv 

adjective

Medical Definition

emission

noun

emis·​sion ē-ˈmish-ən 

1

: an act or instance of emitting

2

a

: something sent forth by emitting: as

(1)

: electrons discharged from a surface

(2)

: electromagnetic waves radiated by an antenna or a celestial body

(3)

: substances and especially pollutants discharged into the air (as by a smokestack or an automobile gasoline engine)

b

: a discharge of fluid from a living body

especially : ejaculate see nocturnal emission