pollutant

American  

[puh-loot-nt] / pəˈlut nt /

noun

• pollutants
  plural

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.

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pollutant British  

/ pəˈluːtənt /

noun

1. a substance that pollutes, esp a chemical or similar substance that is produced as a waste product of an industrial process

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pollutant Scientific  

/ pə-lo̅o̅t′nt /

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpollutant
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pollutants
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pollutant

First recorded in 1890–95; pollute + -ant

Explanation

Any substance that makes the environment dirty or contaminated is a pollutant. Soot is an example of an air pollutant, and chemical pollutants can make their way into the water supply. Trash that doesn't quickly biodegrade is one kind of pollutant—think of plastic bags floating around in the ocean. Chemicals that find their way into the air we breathe and the water we drink are another kind of pollutant. Pollutant comes from pollution, from the Late Latin pollutionem, "defilement," and its root polluere, "to soil or defile."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pollutant pollutants

But tackling the pollutant had the side effect of contributing to global warming, as these tiny airborne particles have a cooling effect by reflecting sunlight and making clouds more reflective.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

While developers argue this is beneficial to remain independent from Utah’s power grid, it would still be highly pollutant and unlikely to account for all the center’s energy needs.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

The researchers hope their findings will help guide environmental policies aimed at reducing plastic production, improving waste management practices, and lowering the long-term health risks associated with this widespread pollutant.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2026

The pollutant, which has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, is more typically associated with coal burning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

It is a bit of a chemical oddity in that at ground level it is a pollutant, while way up in the stratosphere it is beneficial, since it soaks up dangerous ultraviolet radiation.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Sparks said the smell was a combination of pollutants and algae blooms "creating this negative cycle".

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Beyond their carbon footprints, they emit fine particulate matter, linked to a range of heart and lung problems; nitrogen oxides, which aggravate respiratory disease; and hazardous air pollutants including mercury, formaldehyde and benzene.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Researchers have also examined the possible effects of temperature, humidity, silica, and other pollutants.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

The agency also refused to assign any benefits to the reduction of pollutants like nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

From Slate ● Aug. 2, 2026

The company is fined for each metric ton of pollutants over the legal limit.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

Related Words

• poison
• pollution
• toxic waste
• toxin