pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

a

: the action of polluting

especially : the action of making an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use by introducing man-made waste

Abandoned mining and milling operations are already implicated in pollution of the river with toxic and radioactive waste products …

—Larry Brown

b

: the condition of being polluted

A three-year study … has indicated that the lake already is suffering from severe pollution and that any additional development will exacerbate it.

—Anthony DePalma

2

: something that pollutes

especially : something (such as man-made waste) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use

tested the levels of pollution [=pollutants] in the water

Examples of pollution in a Sentence

industrial practices that have caused pollution of the air and water

The tests showed high levels of pollution in the water.

The fish are dying of pollution.

Recent Examples on the Web

The river conservation nonprofit released its annual America’s Most Endangered Rivers list Tuesday to call attention to 10 of the most at-risk rivers and streams due to drought, pollution and climate change. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024

What do big cities owe those towns and tribes for producing our power and living with our air and water pollution? —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

By cutting greenhouse gas emissions, humanity will spew out fewer planet-cooling aerosols—small particles of pollution that act like tiny umbrellas to bounce some of the sun’s energy back into space. —Matt Simon, WIRED, 15 Apr. 2024

Meat, dairy, and feed corporations take up just a tiny fraction (about 0.25%) of the banks’ lending portfolios all while causing almost 11% of their climate pollution. —Monique Mikhail, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024

Big companies including Microsoft and Amazon are also paying startups to capture some of their pollution. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2024

The hull damage, pollution and cargo losses were insured separately in the market as property coverage. —Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

The high incidence of cancer stems from a mix of environmental and socioeconomic factors, like high levels of pollution, as well as lifestyle and dietary preferences. —Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024

Haze can be caused by various factors, including pollen or dust, air pollution or even distant wildfires. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pollution

• light pollution
• noise pollution
• thermal pollution

Kids Definition

pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

: the action of polluting : the state of being polluted

air pollution

compare noise pollution, thermal pollution

2

: pollutant

Medical Definition

pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

: the action of polluting or the condition of being polluted

2

: pollutant