pollute

[puh-loot]

verb (used with object)

polluted, polluting 

1. to make foul or unclean, especially with harmful chemical or waste products; dirty.

   to pollute the air with smoke.

   Synonyms: befoul, soil
   Antonyms: purify

2. to make morally unclean; defile.

   Synonyms: deprave, debase, corrupt, vitiate, contaminate, taint
   Antonyms: purify

3. to render ceremonially impure; desecrate.

   to pollute a house of worship.

4. Informal.,  to render less effective or efficient.

   The use of inferior equipment has polluted the company's service.

pollute

/ pəˈluːt /

verb

1. to contaminate, as with poisonous or harmful substances

2. to make morally corrupt or impure; sully

3. to desecrate or defile

Other Word Forms

• polluter noun
• pollutive adjective
• nonpolluting adjective
• unpolluting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pollute¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English polute, from Latin pollūtus, past participle of polluere “to soil, defile,” equivalent to pol-, assimilated variant of por- “forth, forward” (variant of prefix per- ), here marking completed action + -lū- base of -luere (akin to lutum “mud, dirt,” lustrum “muddy place”) + -tus past participle suffix; per-

Word History and Origins

Origin of pollute¹

C14 polute, from Latin polluere to defile

Example Sentences

The polluting companies, and the government that is supposed to regulate them, are blameless.

From Salon

There were also a plethora of household items that contained corrosive acids and toxic ingredients that needed to be collected to prevent them from polluting soil and groundwater.

From Los Angeles Times

The southern state's heavy reliance on groundwater and natural water bodies makes it particularly vulnerable, especially as many ponds and wells are polluted.

From BBC

Most villages had dug wells, but even they were polluted and crops had to be burned because they were unsafe for consumption, the petitioners said.

From BBC

It’s about who gets to write the rules that govern our economy and who gets to decide how polluted our state will be.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contaminate 
• foul 
• infect 
• poison 
• stain 
• taint 
• violate