smog

American  

[smog, smawg] / smɒg, smɔg /

noun

1. smoke or other atmospheric pollutants combined with fog in an unhealthy or irritating mixture.

2. photochemical smog.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover or envelop with or as if with smog.

smog British  

/ smɒɡ /

noun

1. a mixture of smoke, fog, and chemical fumes

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smog Scientific  

/ smŏg /

1. A form of air pollution produced by the reaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons, nitrogen compounds, and other gases primarily released in automobile exhaust. Smog is common in large urban areas, especially during hot, sunny weather, where it appears as a brownish haze that can irritate the eyes and lungs. Ozone, a toxic gas that is not normally produced at lower atmospheric levels, is one of the primary pollutants created in this kind of smog.

2. Also called photochemical smog

3. Fog that has become polluted with smoke and particulates, especially from burning coal.

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smog Cultural  

1. A haze or fog composed of water vapor, complex molecules, and suspended particles.

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Discover More

In North America, the primary cause of smog is pollution from automobile exhaust.

The Los Angeles basin, where pollutants can be trapped by inversions and the surrounding mountains, has frequent problems with smog, as do other major urban areas.

The word smog is a combination of smoke and fog.

Other Word Forms

• desmog verb (used with object)
• smoggy adjective
• smogless adjective

Etymology

Origin of smog

1900–05; sm(oke) + ( f)og ¹

Example Sentences

Outside, the sky burned neon pink and orange, the kind of L.A. sunrise that’s beautiful even if it’s born from smog.

From Los Angeles Times

Pollution spikes are common in the city, especially during thermal inversions when a layer of warm air sits above a layer of cold air, trapping smog over the city.

From Barron's

Pollution spikes are common in the city of nearly 400,000, especially during thermal inversions when a layer of warm air sits above a layer of cold air, trapping smog over the mountain-ringed city.

From Barron's

"It wasn't there in my childhood" in Lahore, said the 45-year-old who now lives in coastal Karachi, where the sea breeze no longer saves residents from smog.

From Barron's

Housing affordability has become a major issue, as has pollution that blankets major cities in toxic smog.

From Barron's

Related Words

• acid rain
• carbon dioxide
• fog
• smoke
• soot