pollutant

American  

[puh-loot-nt] / pəˈlut 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.

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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

• nonpollutant adjective

Etymology

Origin of pollutant

First recorded in 1890–95; pollute + -ant

Example Sentences

He draws parallels to chlorofluorocarbons pollutants released from refrigerators that bore a hole in the ozone layer last century, and were eventually banned.

From BBC

Dissenting in Massachusetts, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that from the court’s reasoning, “it follows that everything airborne, from Frisbees to flatulence, qualifies as an ‘air pollutant.’

From The Wall Street Journal

China's rapid development and heavy coal use saw air quality decline dramatically by the 2000s, especially when cold winter weather trapped pollutants close to the ground.

From Barron's

Hundreds still use open dumping, despite it being illegal, and waste is often burned, releasing potentially hazardous pollutants.

From Barron's

But scientists consistently say that pollutants, including greenhouse gases, can cause health problems and premature deaths.

From BBC

Related Words

• poison
• pollution
• toxic waste
• toxin