ozone

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noun \ˈō-ˌzōn\

Definition of ozone

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

play play \ō-ˈzō-nik, -ˈzä-\ adjective

See ozone defined for English-language learners

See ozone defined for kids

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 of ozone from the Web

Air quality: Moderate air quality expected today because of increased ozone pollution.

— carlie kollath wells, NOLA.com, "Hot, humid day with afternoon storms in New Orleans: July 6 forecast", 6 July 2017
Ozone levels will likely climb to a level that's unhealthy for people in sensitive groups such as seniors, children and people with breathing ailments like asthma and COPD.

— james bruggers, The Courier-Journal, "Poor air quality predicted for Louisville area", 30 June 2017
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found a strong correlation between mortality and exposure to the pollutants ozone and particular matter, both of which contribute to smog.

— justin worland, Time, "Air Pollution Is Still Killing People in the United States", 28 June 2017
One treatment involved blowing gaseous ozone into the rectum or vagina.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Report reveals years of suffering, death from therapies for “chronic Lyme”", 16 June 2017
Riverside County, in which Calvert’s district sits, received grants to address ozone and particulate matter pollution for the 2016 fiscal year.

— dino grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: EPA's budget finds unexpected defenders in Congress", 16 June 2017
CCWD uses ozone gas to blast apart the harmful compounds and deep granular activated carbon beds to remove impurities from Delta water.

— denis cuff, The Mercury News, "How safe is your East Bay drinking water?", 14 June 2017
The culprit is a dangerous mix of diesel exhaust, paint fumes and trees, baked by the heat to create a blanket of ozone.

— brian k sullivan, Bloomberg.com, "The Heat Wave Sweeping the East Coast Comes With a Side of Smog", 13 June 2017
The compound depletes the ozone, and the EPA has mandated that its use be completely phased out by the year 2020.

— ellen cagle, kansascity, "Keeping cool could cost you a whole lot more this summer", 9 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of ozone

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

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First Known Use: 1841

See Words from the same year

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, rime, squall, zephyr

OZONE Defined for English Language Learners

ozone

play

noun

Definition of ozone for English Language Learners

: a form of oxygen that is found in a layer high in the earth's atmosphere
: fresh healthy air especially near the sea

OZONE Defined for Kids

ozone

play

noun \ˈō-ˌzōn\

Definition of ozone for Students

: a faintly blue form of oxygen that is present in the air in small quantities

Medical Dictionary

ozone

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noun \ˈō-ˌzōn\

Medical Definition of ozone

: 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