climate change

noun

: significant and long-lasting change in the earth's climate and weather patterns

The half-tonne … turtles were thought to have died out 30,000 to 40,000 years ago because of climate change.

—New Scientist

especially, in current use : such change associated with global warming

Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change are renewed among scientists and the public with every new report about the possibility of melting icecaps and rising temperatures.

—Randy Showstack

Drought is a paleontological fact in the American West, but the latest desiccations have a new signature, and my region's climatologists, hydrologists, foresters, and water managers are nearly unanimous in their conviction that what we are seeing now is climate change, the anthropogenic kind, a consequence of too much CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

—Kenneth Brower

Examples of climate change in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the scheme of climate change, the cost of my cough is relatively small. — Justin Worland, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

Fueling a cycle of extreme weather, climate change is making these events worse. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026

The season itself is in no danger; climate change, mainly caused by the burning of oil, gas and coal, is warming the weather year-round. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

In another study, participants first reported their views on divisive topics, such as climate change, capital punishment and policing. — Andras Molnar, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for climate change

• arrange
• derange
• estrange
• exchange
• midrange
• grange
• mange
• range
• strange
• interchange
• rearrange

Kids Definition

climate change

noun

: significant and long-lasting change in the earth's climate and weather patterns

especially : such change associated with global warming