smog

noun

ˈsmäg 

ˈsmȯg

: a fog made heavier and darker by smoke and chemical fumes

also : a photochemical haze caused by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on atmosphere polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen especially from automobile exhaust

smogless

ˈsmä-gləs 

ˈsmȯ-

adjective

Synonyms

• brume
• fog
• gauze
• haze
• mist
• murk
• reek
• soup

Examples of smog in a Sentence

the city's smog was once so bad that darkness often prevailed, even at noon

Recent Examples on the Web

However, warmer, breezier weather helped to mitigate the smog. —Sophia Saifi, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

And that pattern of expansion is resulting in the same problems — congestion, smog, water shortages, sprawl — that many residents moved there from California to escape. —Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2024

Statewide, disadvantaged neighborhoods in the Los Angeles metro area had the highest concentrations of smog and soot. —Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024

Its three-stage filtration is designed to target pollutants such as smog and smoke, pet dander, hair, and other allergens. —Toni Sutton, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

smoke + fog

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing smog

• anti-smog

Kids Definition

smog

noun

ˈsmäg 

 also  ˈsmȯg

: a thick haze caused by the action of sunlight on air polluted especially by smoke and automobile exhaust fumes

Etymology

from smoke and fog

Medical Definition

smog

noun

ˈsmäg also ˈsmȯg

: a fog made heavier and darker by smoke and chemical fumes

also : a photochemical haze caused by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on atmosphere polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen especially from automobile exhaust