catalytic converter

noun

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of catalytic converter

: an automobile exhaust-system component containing a catalyst that causes conversion of harmful gases (such as carbon monoxide and uncombusted hydrocarbons) into mostly harmless products (such as water and carbon dioxide)

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Recent Examples of catalytic converter from the Web

But emissions components — including catalytic converters and oxygen sensors — are all warranted for eight years or 80,000 miles.

— ray magliozzi, courant.com, "Car Talk: It's Safe To Use Seat Heaters If Stranded In Snow," 11 July 2018
More recently there had been a rash of thefts of catalytic converters from cars parked in driveways and public parking lots.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Five Early Lessons in Parenting," 5 May 2018
Willowbrook Theft Someone removed the catalytic converter from a vehicle parked on the 6100 block of Knoll Lane Court.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Police blotter: Catalytic converter reported stolen from vehicle at The Knolls condominiums," 14 May 2018
Theft from auto, Cheyenne Trail: On Feb. 18, police were dispatched to a Cheyenne Trail residence after its homeowner discovered someone stole his car's catalytic converter.

— john benson, cleveland.com, "Resident discovers thieves took his car's catalytic converter: Parma Heights Police Blotter," 1 Mar. 2018
While Honda gave us the CVCC engine, the rest of the industry went with GM’s invention,the catalytic converter.

— star-telegram, "Gasoline: Pump Us Up?," 28 Apr. 2018
Regulations years ago led to air quality improvement as cars came equipped with catalytic converters and power plants switched to low-nitrogen oxide burners.

— tony barboza, latimes.com, "Slowdown in emissions reductions could explain stalled progress on smog, study finds," 30 Apr. 2018
Many people purchased those plastic tips to save a few bucks on fuel,while ruining their very expensive catalytic converters.

— star-telegram, "Gasoline: Pump Us Up?," 28 Apr. 2018
Theft, Engle Road: A man parked his car at Crowne Plaza Hotel March 20 and returned to it the next day to find someone removed its catalytic converter.

— joanne berger dumound/special to cleveland.com., cleveland.com, "Air fresheners in car raise red flag: Middleburg Heights police blotter," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catalytic converter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.