aerosol
noun
aero·sol
ˈer-ə-ˌsäl 
-ˌsȯl
-ˌsȯl
1
: a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas
Smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols.
airborne aerosol transmission of infective viral particles
also, aerosols plural
: the fine particles of an aerosol
stratospheric aerosols
2
: a substance (such as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol
also
: the container for this
Examples of aerosol in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Within a few days of seeing those posters, Morawska established what's now called ‘the group of 36’, all leading experts on air quality and aerosols.
—
Laurie Winkless, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Viral aerosols can linger in the air for as long as two hours after an infected person has left the area.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
But sulfur aerosols attract water vapor, meaning that previously those ships would produce clouds in their wake—known as ship tracks—which, similar to Saharan dust, would bounce some of the sun’s energy back into space.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 15 Feb. 2024
According to Stevens and resources from the City of Milwaukee, these categories of items can be safely recycled in the city's curbside program:
Cans: Aluminum and steel cans including beverages, food and aerosols.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
While greenhouse gases, volcanic eruptions and aerosols are known to affect global temperatures, perhaps the full extent of their effects have been underestimated or miscalibrated.
—Hayley Smith Los Angeles Times (tns), arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
From spraying it on fabrics to using it as your room’s aerosol, the fragrance is multi-use and comes as an incense as well.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024
In 2022, 32 aerosol dry shampoos and dry conditioners were voluntarily recalled due to possible benzene contamination.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 8 Mar. 2024
Volcanoes can substantially cool the climate by spewing plumes of aerosols into the atmosphere, like ship emissions do, but this one instead fired 146 trillion grams of water vapor into the sky, equivalent to 58,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2024
Laurie Winkless, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Viral aerosols can linger in the air for as long as two hours after an infected person has left the area.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
But sulfur aerosols attract water vapor, meaning that previously those ships would produce clouds in their wake—known as ship tracks—which, similar to Saharan dust, would bounce some of the sun’s energy back into space.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 15 Feb. 2024
According to Stevens and resources from the City of Milwaukee, these categories of items can be safely recycled in the city's curbside program:
Cans: Aluminum and steel cans including beverages, food and aerosols.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
While greenhouse gases, volcanic eruptions and aerosols are known to affect global temperatures, perhaps the full extent of their effects have been underestimated or miscalibrated.
—Hayley Smith Los Angeles Times (tns), arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
From spraying it on fabrics to using it as your room’s aerosol, the fragrance is multi-use and comes as an incense as well.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024
In 2022, 32 aerosol dry shampoos and dry conditioners were voluntarily recalled due to possible benzene contamination.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 8 Mar. 2024
Volcanoes can substantially cool the climate by spewing plumes of aerosols into the atmosphere, like ship emissions do, but this one instead fired 146 trillion grams of water vapor into the sky, equivalent to 58,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aerosol.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near aerosol
Cite this Entry
“Aerosol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aerosol. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aerosol
noun
aero·sol
ˈar-ə-ˌsäl
ˈer-
ˈer-
-ˌsȯl
: a mixture of fine solid or liquid particles and gas
smoke and fog are aerosols
Medical Definition
aerosol
noun
aero·sol
ˈar-ə-ˌsäl
ˈer-
ˈer-
-ˌsȯl
1
: a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in gas
smoke, fog, and mist are aerosols
2
: a substance (as an insecticide or medicine) dispensed from a pressurized container as an aerosol
also
: the container for this
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