nitrogen oxide

noun

: any of several oxides of nitrogen most of which are produced in combustion and are considered to be atmospheric pollutants: such as

a

: nitric oxide

b

: nitrogen dioxide

c

: nitrous oxide

Examples of nitrogen oxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rule also translates to an extra 90 tons a year of soot particles and 4,870 additional tons a year of smog components such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted into the air in coming years, experts say. — Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026

The technology can also tackle soot and nitrogen oxide emissions, which form when fuel and air are not mixed sufficiently. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Dozens of gas turbines in one place can produce very high levels of nitrogen oxides, according to Daniel Cohan, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University. — Austyn Gaffney, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2026

In California, the trucks are only 6% of vehicles on the road, but account for about 35% of harmful nitrogen oxide emissions and 25% of greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, according to the California Air Resources Board. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nitrogen oxide

• acetaldehyde
• acetanilide
• arabinoside
• cycloheximide
• cyclophosphamide
• diethylamide
• dinucleotide
• ferricyanide
• ferrocyanide
• glutaraldehyde
• glyceraldehyde
• hydroperoxide

Kids Definition

nitrogen oxide

noun

: any of various oxides of nitrogen: as

a

: nitrogen dioxide

b

: nitrous oxide