aerosol

American  

[air-uh-sawl, -sol] / ˈɛər əˌsɔl, -ˌsɒl /

noun

• aerosols
  plural

1. Physical Chemistry. a system of colloidal particles dispersed in a gas and commonly formed as smoke, fog, mist, haze, or smog.

   a radioactive aerosol;

   aerosols in the stratosphere.

2. a liquid substance, as a disinfectant or deodorant, sealed in a metal container under pressure with an inert gas or other activating agent and released as a spray or foam through a push-button valve or nozzle.

   an aerosol for cleaning ovens.

3. Physiology, Pathology. a mist that lingers in the air, composed of fine particles (less than 5 micrometers in diameter) that form from the evaporation of respiratory droplets (5–10 micrometers in diameter) released into the air through talking, breathing, singing, whistling, coughing, sneezing, etc..

   Recommended precautions against virus-laden aerosols vary according to the type of virus.

4. aerosol bomb.

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adjective

1. of or containing a liquid or gas under pressure for dispensing as a spray or foam.

   a deodorant available in aerosol cans.

aerosol British  

/ ˈɛərəˌsɒl /

noun

1. a colloidal dispersion of solid or liquid particles in a gas; smoke or fog

2. a substance, such as a paint, polish, or insecticide, dispensed from a small metal container by a propellant under pressure

3. Also called: air spray.  such a substance together with its container

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aerosol Scientific  

/ âr′ə-sôl′ /

1. A substance consisting of very fine particles of a liquid or solid suspended in a gas. Mist, which consists of very fine droplets of water in air, is an aerosol.

2. Compare emulsion foam

3. A liquid substance, such as paint, an insecticide, or a hair spray, packaged under pressure for use or application as a fine spray.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• aerosols
  plural

Etymology

Origin of aerosol

First recorded in 1920–25; aero- + sol ⁴

Explanation

An aerosol is a substance released in very fine mist, like oven cleaner or air freshener. An aerosol contains tiny particles of liquid or solid suspended within a gas. Spray paint is an aerosol product, released at the press of a button in a hissing spray. The aerosol paint emerges in the form of a gas, and adheres to the surface as a solid color. Aerosol products can be dangerous, since they're very flammable and can cause health problems if people inhale them. The word was coined in 1919, from a combination of aero-, "air" in Greek, and sol, short for solution.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aerosol aerosols

High supersaturation acts as the "fuel" that additional fine or ultrafine aerosol particles could use to form more droplets.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

Instead, they demonstrate that the atmospheric conditions required for condensational aerosol invigoration can develop inside real tropical convective clouds.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

The maker of aluminum cans and aerosol containers said global beverage can volumes increased 5%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

The biggest fine levied against the GEO Group was for failure to establish and maintain “effective written procedures to reduce employee risk of exposure to aerosol transmissible disease.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

I was “randomly selected” for an enhanced screening after that, even though my messenger bag had nothing liquid, gel, or aerosol in it.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

The review identified multiple cancer causing substances in e-cigarette aerosols, including volatile organic compounds and metals released by heating coils.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 21, 2026

Humans are mainly infected by inhaling aerosols contaminated by the saliva, droppings or urine of animals or through direct contact with faeces, or via bites or scratches.

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

Other proposed methods include squirting aerosols into the atmosphere or using microbubbles to make the ocean whiter.

From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2026

Geoengineering experiments to reduce the Earth’s temperature with aerosols and modify ocean acidity are gathering pace.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

First were the handheld aerosols, beefed-up versions of the little canisters found in women’s purses.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• sprayer
• sprinkler