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

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Elanco has six products targeting screwworm larvae, including an aerosol wound treatment sanctioned by the Environmental Protection Agency.

From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026

Then there was an explosion—likely an aerosol can.

From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026

A man in a hoodie and mask, who authorities said was Bradbury, walks into a kitchen with an aerosol can, allegedly a poison for bugs, and sprays everything in sight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026

“We had to protect ourselves when we went inside. We knew that Marburg is transmitted by the aerosol route.”

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

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

Theories include changes to clouds and tiny particles called aerosols, which appear to be reflecting less of the Sun's energy back into space.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 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