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

“You can’t have such a potent greenhouse gas just going unaccounted for,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

That adds methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Food production plays a major role in environmental issues, including greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

The EU has set a legally binding target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 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