chlorofluorocarbon

noun

chlo·ro·fluo·ro·car·bon | \ ˌklȯr-ō-ˌflȯr-ō-ˈkär-bən

, -ˌflu̇r-\

Definition of chlorofluorocarbon

: any of several simple gaseous compounds that contain carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen, that are used as refrigerants, cleaning solvents, and aerosol propellants and in the manufacture of plastic foams, and that are believed to be a major cause of stratospheric ozone depletion —abbreviation CFC

Examples of chlorofluorocarbon in a Sentence

Many nations have banned the production of chlorofluorocarbons.

Recent Examples on the Web

The protocol was adopted in the late 1980s in response to studies that showed CFC-11 and similar gases, collectively known as chlorofluorocarbons, depleted atmospheric ozone. — New York Times, BostonGlobe.com, "Is someone secretly producing gas that harms the ozone layer?," 17 May 2018 The protocol was adopted in the late 1980s in response to studies that showed CFC-11 and similar gases, collectively known as chlorofluorocarbons, depleted atmospheric ozone. — New York Times, BostonGlobe.com, "Is someone secretly producing gas that harms the ozone layer?," 17 May 2018 The hole in the ozone, which is centered over this region, is caused in part by the release of chlorofluorocarbons that come from your air-conditionng, aerosol cans, solvents, refrigeration and other manufacturing processes. — Jen Christensen, CNN, "Scientists lay out how to save a melting Antarctica -- and the grim future if we don't," 13 June 2018 The protocol was adopted in the late 1980s in response to studies that showed CFC-11 and similar gases, collectively known as chlorofluorocarbons, depleted atmospheric ozone. — New York Times, BostonGlobe.com, "Is someone secretly producing gas that harms the ozone layer?," 17 May 2018 The protocol was adopted in the late 1980s in response to studies that showed CFC-11 and similar gases, collectively known as chlorofluorocarbons, depleted atmospheric ozone. — New York Times, BostonGlobe.com, "Is someone secretly producing gas that harms the ozone layer?," 17 May 2018 There is mercury in liquid-crystal display screens, lead in cathode-ray tubes, cadmium in semiconductors and batteries, and ozone layer-destroying chlorofluorocarbons in old refrigerators, for example. — Peter Ford, The Christian Science Monitor, "'E-waste': Getting grip on a growing global problem," 9 July 2018 The protocol was adopted in the late 1980s in response to studies that showed CFC-11 and similar gases, collectively known as chlorofluorocarbons, depleted atmospheric ozone. — New York Times, BostonGlobe.com, "Is someone secretly producing gas that harms the ozone layer?," 17 May 2018 The protocol was adopted in the late 1980s in response to studies that showed CFC-11 and similar gases, collectively known as chlorofluorocarbons, depleted atmospheric ozone. — New York Times, BostonGlobe.com, "Is someone secretly producing gas that harms the ozone layer?," 17 May 2018

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

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The first known use of chlorofluorocarbon was in 1949

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More Definitions for chlorofluorocarbon

chlorofluorocarbon

noun

English Language Learners Definition of chlorofluorocarbon

technical : a gas that was once commonly used in various products (such as aerosols) but that is believed to cause damage to the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere

See the full definition for chlorofluorocarbon in the English Language Learners Dictionary