ozone

noun

ˈō-ˌzōn 

1

: a triatomic very reactive form of oxygen that is a bluish irritating gas of pungent odor, that is a major air pollutant in the lower atmosphere but a beneficial component of the upper atmosphere, and that is used for oxidizing, bleaching, disinfecting, and deodorizing

2

: pure and refreshing air

relished the ozone of morning

ozonic

ō-ˈzō-nik  -ˈzä- 

adjective

Examples of ozone in a Sentence

Scientists are concerned about ozone depletion.

A light breeze filled the rooms of our seaside cottage with ozone.

Recent Examples on the Web

In terms of ozone pollution, Bakersfield was the third most polluted metro area in the United States, with an average of 72.8 high-ozone days per year. —Fernanda Galan, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2025

On Wednesday, the American Lung Association ranked the Denver-Aurora-Greeley metropolitan area as the sixth-worst city for ozone pollution in the nation. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025

In Arizona, while Maricopa County narrowly avoided stricter EPA regulations this week, concerns about persistent ozone pollution remain acute. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

Nearly half of the country lives in areas that received a failing grade for either particle pollution – fine particulate matter created when things burn – or ozone pollution, according to the report. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Ozon, from Greek ozōn, present participle of ozein to smell — more at odor

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ozone

• ozone-friendly
• ozone hole
• ozone layer

Rhymes for ozone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

ozone

noun

ˈō-ˌzōn 

1

: a form of oxygen that is a bluish irritating sharp-smelling gas containing three atoms per molecule, and that is used especially in disinfecting, deodorizing, and bleaching

2

: pure and refreshing air

Medical Definition

ozone

noun

ˈō-ˌzōn 

: a triatomic very reactive form of oxygen that is a bluish irritating gas of pungent odor, that is formed naturally in the atmosphere by a photochemical reaction and is a major air pollutant in the lower atmosphere but a beneficial component of the upper atmosphere, and that is used for oxidizing, bleaching, disinfecting, and deodorizing

ozonic

ō-ˈzō-nik  -ˈzän-ik 

adjective