pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

a

: the action of polluting

especially : the action of making an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use by introducing chemical or manufacturing waste

Abandoned mining and milling operations are already implicated in pollution of the river with toxic and radioactive waste products …

—Larry Brown

b

: the condition of being polluted

A three-year study … has indicated that the lake already is suffering from severe pollution and that any additional development will exacerbate it.

—Anthony DePalma

2

: something that pollutes

especially : something (such as chemical or manufacturing waste) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use

tested the levels of pollution [=pollutants] in the water

Examples of pollution in a Sentence

industrial practices that have caused pollution of the air and water

The tests showed high levels of pollution in the water.

The fish are dying of pollution.

Recent Examples on the Web

The village council is trying to block large-scale data centers because of concerns like rising power costs, water usage and pollution, and Lordstown Mayor Jackie Woodward said four council elections last month hinged on whether candidates opposed such projects. —Mark Niquette, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025

Themes span workplace automation (delivery bots threaten to put human porters like Sam out of work), pollution (prolonged exposure to a mysterious substance called chiralium causes various health problems) and climate change (storms and floods are increasingly common in this future world). —Will Ripley, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025

The key is to head to a dark spot, far from city lights and pollution. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025

No-Burn Days are needed to protect public health when fine particle pollution levels are expected to be high anywhere in the South Coast Air Basin. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pollution

• light pollution
• noise pollution
• thermal pollution

Rhymes for pollution

• ablution
• aleutian
• confucian
• dilution
• elution
• locution
• solution
• volution
• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution

Kids Definition

pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

: the action of polluting : the state of being polluted

air pollution

compare noise pollution, thermal pollution

2

: pollutant

Medical Definition

pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

: the action of polluting or the condition of being polluted

2

: something (such as anthropogenic waste) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use : pollutant