greenhouse gas

American  

[green-haus gas] / ˈgrinˌhaʊs ˌgæs /

noun

• greenhouse gases
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• greenhouse gases
  plural

Etymology

Origin of greenhouse gas

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

greenhouse gas

They said the British energy giant should be held responsible because of its past and current greenhouse gas emissions associated with exploration, production and sale of fossil fuels.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026

As I wrote in 2019, California’s policies, by contrast, reflect the scientific consensus that greenhouse gas emissions are a mortal threat to the environment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

Still, some expressed concern about opening the floodgates to cases against any company that contributed to greenhouse gas emissions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

One reason US companies feel they can compete is because of the electricity demand boom from data centres, which are contributing to rising greenhouse gas emissions in the US.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Coal plants are also a major producer of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland