light pollution

American  

noun

1. unwanted or harmful light, as from bright street lights or neon signs.

2. Astronomy. artificial illumination of the sky that sets a limit on the faintness of stars that can be observed or photographed.

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light pollution British  

noun

1. the glow from street and domestic lighting that obscures the night sky and hinders the observation of faint stars

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Etymology

Origin of light pollution

First recorded in 1970–75

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

light pollution

Granted by the International Astronomical Union in 2011, the status aims to safeguard the right of any citizen to enjoy the night sky by helping to limit light pollution.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Others are worried about buying a home close to a data center because of potential noise and light pollution.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026

Bosco Ortega, 12, wants to be an astronaut when he grows up but has until now lived in Cairo, where the light pollution means few stars can be seen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Cloud cover is uncommon, light pollution is low, and the site has an especially clear view toward the western horizon.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026

New York City has too much light pollution.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

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