greenhouse gas

American  

[green-hous gas] / ˈgrinˌhaʊs ˌgæs /

noun

1. any of the gases whose absorption of solar radiation is responsible for the greenhouse effect, including carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and the fluorocarbons.

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greenhouse gas British  

noun

1. any gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect

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greenhouse gas Scientific  

1. Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation produced by solar warming of the Earth's surface. They include carbon dioxide (CO ₂), methane (CH ₄), nitrous oxide (N ₂ O), and water vapor. Although greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, the elevated levels especially of carbon dioxide and methane that have been observed in recent decades are directly related, at least in part, to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of tropical forests.

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Etymology

Origin of greenhouse gas

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Regulators at the California Air Resources Board are set to decide May 28 whether to approve the latest blueprint for greenhouse gas limits on major polluters through 2045, a program known as cap-and-invest.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026

It sought to require public companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions and plans to address climate change.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

The work also introduces a new strategy for hydrogen exploration that may support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand clean energy options.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday will weigh a draft resolution underlining states' obligations to combat climate change, a long-awaited move that has been scaled back under pressure from major greenhouse gas emitters.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

It was the microbes that created methane—the farts—and methane was a greenhouse gas that trapped heat inside the atmosphere, making the earth hotter.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz