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

The authors note that additional scientific concerns have been raised about other parts of the DOE report, including its treatment of climate change detection and attribution.

From Science Daily • Jul. 2, 2026

A recent study estimated that one in two homes is "inadequately equipped" to cope with high temperatures, turning into a "thermal cauldron" during increasingly frequent heatwaves that scientists say are linked to human-induced climate change.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

The Bank for International Settlements this week listed climate change, alongside aging populations and rising defense spending, as key fiscal challenges for governments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

But climate change might soon have something to say about that.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

In addition to its benefits to the soil, slash-and-char releases much less carbon into the air than slash-and-burn, which has large potential implications for climate change.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann