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, he added, would make summers "harder and harder".

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

Climate change and ongoing ecological disasters have made Indigenous perspectives more vital than ever, the author argues.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

And it’s not just diesel: Climate change, inflation and tariffs have all caused the base of Italian food — the humble tomato — to skyrocket nearly 40% over last year.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026

Climate change is dramatically reshaping how Greenland's ice sheet melts, according to a new study led by the University of Barcelona and published in Nature Communications.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

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

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz