black lung

American  

noun

1. pneumoconiosis of coal miners, caused by coal dust; anthracosis.

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black lung British  

noun

1. another name for pneumoconiosis

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black lung Scientific  

1. An occupational disease of coal miners caused by the long-term inhalation of coal dust, characterized by the presence of coal around the bronchioles on x-ray images. Most patients develop no symptoms, but a few advance to progressive obstruction of the airways and destruction of lung tissue with accompanying shortness of breath and eventual respiratory disability.

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black lung Cultural  

1. A chronic disease of the lungs caused by inhaling coal dust over long periods. Common among coal miners, black lung is an example of an occupational disease.

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Etymology

Origin of black lung

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

black lung

Burke insisted that new black lung cases do not reflect current mining conditions, because of the delay in the onset of symptoms.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

He still struggles with black lung disease, she said, and joint pain from time spent crawling underground.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2024

As progress on the rule stalled, government researchers documented with growing alarm a resurgence of severe black lung afflicting younger coal miners, and studies implicated poorly controlled silica as the likely cause.

From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2024

Michael and David, who worked at the Haig Colliery in Whitehaven, Cumbria, know many miners who were struck down by black lung.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2024

Mom got on the phone and said Dad’s black lung had worsened.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam