climate change

American  

[klahy-mit cheynj] / ˈklaɪ mɪt ˌtʃeɪndʒ /

noun

1. a long-term change in the earth's climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature.

   Melting glaciers imply that life in the Arctic is affected by climate change.

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Usage

What is climate change? Climate change refers to a sweeping change in global climate conditions, including weather phenomena, temperature, and sea levels. It’s caused by an influx of greenhouse gases, mostly from fossil fuel emissions around the world. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and change weather patterns, warming many areas of the globe and causing erratic season and weather events. How is term pronounced?[ klahy-mit cheynj ]

Etymology

Origin of climate change

First recorded in 1980–85

Compare meaning

How does climate-change compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• global warming vs. climate change

Example Sentences

"Climate change is warming the ocean from the top down, increasing the density difference between surface and deep waters," Weber says.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

Climate change is the big one, but it could also help with things like large-scale desalination, which has long been technically viable but has high energy demands.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Climate change warms the atmosphere, raising baseline temperatures and making heat-trapping weather patterns more intense and longer-lasting.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

Climate change makes both kinds of death more likely.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

Climate change was real and it was here, and Akira had to do something about it.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz