nitrogen oxide

noun

: any of several oxides of nitrogen most of which are produced in combustion and are considered to be atmospheric pollutants: such as

Examples of nitrogen oxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Volkswagen sold nearly 600,000 diesel motor vehicles with devices designed to cheat federal emissions tests for nitrogen oxides or NOx, according to the settlement. Molly Duerig, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025 For example, Erin Brockovich-style reporting is finding that in Memphis, Tennessee, Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer, Colossus, is worsening air quality due to its massive use of methane-gas turbines, emitting a smog of nitrogen oxides and toxic formaldehyde. Michaela Rychetska, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025 In early April, the Southern Environmental Law Center estimated the turbines could produce, in a year, between 1,200 and 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, a smog-forming pollution associated with poor respiratory health in nearby areas, as well as the carcinogen formaldehyde. Taylor Kate Brown, ProPublica, 17 Sep. 2025 Lightning creates extreme heat that breaks apart nitrogen and oxygen molecules, producing nitrogen oxides. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nitrogen oxide

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitrogen oxide was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

“Nitrogen oxide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrogen%20oxide. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

nitrogen oxide

noun
: any of various oxides of nitrogen: as

More from Merriam-Webster on nitrogen oxide

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