noise pollution

American  

noun

1. unwanted or harmful noise, as from automobiles, airplanes, or industrial workplaces.

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noise pollution British  

noun

1. annoying or harmful noise in an environment

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noise pollution Scientific  

/ noiz /

1. Environmental noise, as from vehicles or machinery, that is annoying, distracting, or physically harmful. The physical effects can include hearing loss, tinnitus, stress, and sleeplessness. Noise pollution is usually considered in terms of its effects on human populations, though it is known to affect wildlife as well.

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Etymology

Origin of noise pollution

First recorded in 1965–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

noise pollution

The data centre is also causing concern over its potential water usage, noise pollution and the scale of the facility harming the landscape.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

For Richard Tur, the founder of NoiseOff, an organization that tracks and offers noise pollution solutions, it doesn’t seem necessary for bystanders to feel a siren “pounding through your body.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

McCollum had only heard about the tech park from a neighbor in February 2025—and immediately grew concerned, having already seen reports about big data centers’ impacts in residential Georgia, from water use to noise pollution.

From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026

Even noise pollution from constant humming of the servers impacts local quality of life.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

Then the development of the steamship in the nineteenth century introduced an ominous source of noise pollution.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

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