effluvium

noun ef·flu·vi·um \ e-ˈflü-vē-əm \

variants: or less commonly effluvia play \e-ˈflü-vē-ə\

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: effluvium in a Sentence

Definition of effluvium

plural effluvia also effluviums

1 : an invisible emanation; especially : an offensive exhalation or smell

2 : a by-product especially in the form of waste

Examples of effluvium in a Sentence

the effluvia from local sewage treatment plants polluting the river

Recent Examples of effluvium from the Web

Abrupt hormone changes can cause sudden hair loss (telogen effluvium) that recovers over about 6 months time.

— jane chertoff, SELF, "This Is Why Your Eyebrows Are Thinner Than They Used to Be—and What to Do About It," 13 July 2018
Thyroid problems: Excessive hair loss, or telogen effluvium, can be a sign that your thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism).

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "WATCH: What Your Hair Is Trying to Tell You About Your Health," 29 Mar. 2018
Gradually replace the asphalt crust with permeable pavers, and construct a network of underground cisterns so that heavy rains no longer drown the sewer system and pump raw effluvium into our waterways.

— justin davidson, Daily Intelligencer, "What Is a City Street? And What Will It Become?," 18 Jan. 2018
Experts estimate that between 40 and 50 percent of women experience telogen effluvium, a.k.a.

— jackie frere, Redbook, "This Viral Video Shows the "Grossly Satisfying" Results of Post-Baby Hair Loss," 7 Dec. 2017
The heat of 1858 made the problem of London’s effluvia unignorable.

— alexandra mullen, WSJ, "The Stink That Sank London," 11 Aug. 2017
Many women who arrive in a dermatologist’s office with prior diagnoses of female pattern hair loss actually have what’s called telogen effluvium.

— courtney rubin, New York Times, "Is This Treatment the Cure for Hair Loss?," 21 Aug. 2017
GIF 2. Towels, mats, and pads A pet mat can keep hairs, dirt, and various bodily effluvia off your seats and carpet.

— blake z. rong, Esquire, "5 Easy Ways to Get Pet Smells Out of Your Car," 11 May 2017
Readers who do not like human effluvia are not the right readers for THE HATERS (Amulet Books, $18.95)

— marjorie ingall, New York Times, "Book Review Newsletter," 1 June 2016

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

Origin and Etymology of effluvium

Latin effluvium act of flowing out, from effluere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1651

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

effluvium

noun ef·flu·vi·um \ e-ˈflü-vē-əm \

medical Definition of effluvium

plural -via play \-vē-ə\ or effluviums

: an invisible emanation; especially : an offensive exhalation or smell —the form effluvia often used with a singular verb

Learn More about effluvium

See words that rhyme with effluvium Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about effluvium

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up effluvium? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

effluvium

Definition of effluvium

Examples of effluvium in a Sentence

Recent Examples of effluvium from the Web

Origin and Etymology of effluvium

Medical Dictionary

effluvium

medical Definition of effluvium

Learn More about effluvium

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

cerulean

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

A Deep Dive on 'Deep Dive'

10 Words for the Elitists in Your Life

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

The Eponym Quiz

Spell It

Citation

A Deep Dive on 'Deep Dive'

10 Words for the Elitists in Your Life

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word

effluvium

Definition of effluvium

Examples of effluvium in a Sentence

Recent Examples of effluvium from the Web

Origin and Etymology of effluvium

Medical Dictionary

effluvium

medical Definition of effluvium

Learn More about effluvium

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

A Deep Dive on 'Deep Dive'

10 Words for the Elitists in Your Life

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word