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

Researchers compared trends across different world regions and examined how population growth related to climate change, carbon emissions, and ecological footprints.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

"This is what climate change feels like," Hannah Cloke, Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate at the University of Reading told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

But with water costs rising and climate change jeopardizing these distant sources, there is growing interest in finding ways to get more water locally.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026

In the northwest of the country, where mining activity is concentrated, glacial reserves have shrunk by 17 percent in the last decade, mainly due to climate change, according to glaciologists.

From Barron's • May 23, 2026

Who had brought a dog to the climate change rally?

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz