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• tear gas
  tear gas

  noun

  a gas that makes the eyes smart and water, thus producing a temporary blindness, used in modern warfare, to quell riots, etc.
• tear-gas
  tear-gas

  verb (used with object)

  to subject to tear gas.

tear gas

¹ American  

[teer] / tɪər /

noun

1. a gas that makes the eyes smart and water, thus producing a temporary blindness, used in modern warfare, to quell riots, etc.

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tear-gas ² American  

[teer-gas] / ˈtɪərˌgæs /

verb (used with object)

tear-gassed, tear-gassing

1. to subject to tear gas.

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tear gas British  

/ tɪə /

noun

1. Also called: lacrimator.  any one of a number of gases or vapours that make the eyes smart and water, causing temporary blindness; usually dispersed from grenades and used in warfare and to control riots

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Etymology

Origin of tear gas¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Origin of tear-gas²

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

“John cleared a tear gas canister away from everyone,” Johnson said, pushing back on the government’s account and adding that tear gas had been deployed indiscriminately by law enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Footage from local media showed police using tear gas to disperse people who approached the crash site to gather the money.

From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026

Federal authorities deployed tear gas and made some arrests.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

It added that the claim that tear gas was deliberately fired into the hospital "does not correspond to the facts".

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

Ugwu was puzzled at first, before he realized that Harrison did not know what tear gas was either but would never admit it.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• poison gas