polluting

adjective

pol·​lut·​ing pə-ˈlü-tiŋ How to pronounce polluting (audio)
: causing pollution
… a region that has been dependent upon basic industries such as coal mining and metal work—relatively polluting industries.Patricia L. Layman
The recycling process itself can be polluting. Recyclers find it difficult to separate recyclable from nonrecyclable plastics, which causes the end product to be useless.Sally Hayhow Cullen

Examples of polluting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2019, four of Indiana’s top 10 highest polluting industrial facilities were in Northwest Indiana, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025 Shipping is one of the most polluting sectors globally, and transitioning to hybrid ships can significantly reduce its environmental impact. Umberto Cavallaro, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 The fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting sectors, generating 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually and accounting for 10% of global carbon emissions. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 That should get the sites up and running more quickly after a grid outage and be less polluting than, say, diesel. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2018 See All Example Sentences for polluting

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polluting was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Polluting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polluting. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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