noise pollution

American  

noun

1. unwanted or harmful noise, as from automobiles, airplanes, or industrial workplaces.

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noise pollution British  

noun

1. annoying or harmful noise in an environment

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noise pollution Scientific  

/ noiz /

1. Environmental noise, as from vehicles or machinery, that is annoying, distracting, or physically harmful. The physical effects can include hearing loss, tinnitus, stress, and sleeplessness. Noise pollution is usually considered in terms of its effects on human populations, though it is known to affect wildlife as well.

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Etymology

Origin of noise pollution

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

The latest European noise pollution standards are another tightrope Ferrari must walk between giving clients what they want and what they can have.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Its population is so low that there are few neighbors around to notice or protest any potential noise pollution or other environmental effects from the data centers.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2025

Ho Chi Minh City already ranks among the loudest cities in Asia, according to the United Nations, with noise pollution levels high enough to damage hearing.

From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025

Today, he deals with the centre’s impacts in real time - the one that bothers him the most is the noise pollution.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2025

Then the development of the steamship in the nineteenth century introduced an ominous source of noise pollution.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan