pollution

[ puh-loo-shuh n ]
/ pəˈlu ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR pollution ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of polluting or the state of being polluted.
the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment: air pollution.

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Origin of pollution

1350–1400; Middle English pollucioun (< Old French) < Late Latin pollūtiōn-, stem of pollūtiō defilement; see pollute, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM pollution

self-pol·lu·tion, noun

Words nearby pollution

polltaker, pollucite, pollutant, pollute, polluted, pollution, pollux, polly, pollyanna, pollyfish, pollywog
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to pollution

abuse, infection, corruption, deterioration, desecration, defilement, taint, profanation, misuse, decomposition, adulteration, blight, uncleanness, foulness, impairment, impurity, rottenness, vitiation, spoliation

Example sentences from the Web for pollution

British Dictionary definitions for pollution

pollution
/ (pəˈluːʃən) /

noun

the act of polluting or the state of being polluted
harmful or poisonous substances introduced into an environment
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

Medical definitions for pollution

pollution
[ pə-lōō′shən ]

n.

The act or process of polluting or the state of being polluted, especially the contamination of soil, water, or the atmosphere by the discharge of harmful substances.
A pollutant or group of pollutants.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for pollution

pollution
[ pə-lōō′shən ]

The contamination of air, water, or soil by substances that are harmful to living organisms. Pollution can occur naturally, for example through volcanic eruptions, or as the result of human activities, such as the spilling of oil or disposal of industrial waste.♦ Light from cities and towns at night that interferes with astronomical observations is known as light pollution. It can also disturb natural rhythms of growth in plants and other organisms.♦ Continuous noise that is loud enough to be annoying or physically harmful is known as noise pollution.♦ Heat from hot water that is discharged from a factory into a river or lake, where it can kill or endanger aquatic life, is known as thermal pollution.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.