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View synonyms for pollutant

pollutant

[ puh-loot-nt ]

noun

  1. something that pollutes.
  2. any substance, as certain chemicals or waste products, that renders the air, soil, water, or other natural resource harmful or unsuitable for a specific purpose.


pollutant

/ pəˈluːtənt /

noun

  1. a substance that pollutes, esp a chemical or similar substance that is produced as a waste product of an industrial process
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


pollutant

/ pə-lo̅o̅tnt /

  1. A substance or condition that contaminates air, water, or soil. Pollutants can be artificial substances, such as pesticides and PCBs, or naturally occurring substances, such as oil or carbon dioxide, that occur in harmful concentrations in a given environment. Heat transmitted to natural waterways through warm-water discharge from power plants and uncontained radioactivity from nuclear wastes are also considered pollutants.


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Other Words From

  • nonpol·lutant adjective noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pollutant1

First recorded in 1890–95; pollute + -ant
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Example Sentences

These pollutants can come from industrial facilities as well as from power plants and vehicles.

While researchers are not sure how this happens, they believe air pollutants could prevent the body’s immune system from being able to tell the difference between a harmless allergen and a dangerous particle, like a virus.

A new study published yesterday in Science Advances finds that asphalt pavement and roofing give off lots of gases that go on to form air pollutants.

To be clear, this finding applied to just one type of pollutant.

In summertime, asphalt in cities might contribute more to pollutants called secondary organic aerosols than cars and trucks.

Acid rock drainage is the single biggest pollutant associated with copper mining.

A fresh start to climate diplomacy would emphasize that carbon dioxide is not the only warming pollutant.

Although it's now regarded as a poisonous pollutant, you can, however, trade it.

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