pneumoconiosis
noun
pneu·mo·co·ni·o·sis
ˌnü-mō-ˌkō-nē-ˈō-səs 
ˌnyü-
plural pneumoconioses
ˌnü-mō-ˌkō-nē-ˈō-ˌsēz
ˌnyü-
: a disease of the lungs caused by the habitual inhalation of irritants (such as mineral or metallic particles) compare black lung, silicosis
Examples of pneumoconiosis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For example, coal miners develop black lung (pneumoconiosis), which is a severe lung disease caused by coal dust.5
3.
—
Mark Gurarie, Health, 15 June 2025
Black lung disease, also known as coal workers' pneumoconiosis, occurs when coal dust is inhaled over a prolonged period.
—Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
The company is conducting additional Phase 3 trials in China for pneumoconiosis and has paused trials for other indications.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2025
For example, biomedical scientists and clinicians trained by NIH grants are addressing locally relevant issues such as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, commonly known as black lung disease, which occurs when coal dust is inhaled.
—Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Exposure to silica and coal dust is a contributing factor for black lung disease, or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and a more severe form of progressive massive fibrosis.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Silicosis is an occupational pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust present in minerals like sandstone.
—Leah Willingham and Matthew Daly, Anchorage Daily News, 25 July 2023
Coal miners’ pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease, affects one in five veteran miners in central Appalachia, according to a 2018 report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the rate of disease has risen dramatically since 2000.
—Grace Segers, The New Republic, 19 Dec. 2021
Miners are at risk of silicosis, pneumoconiosis (black lung) and other diseases from coal dust.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2015
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mark Gurarie, Health, 15 June 2025
Black lung disease, also known as coal workers' pneumoconiosis, occurs when coal dust is inhaled over a prolonged period.
—Madison Dapcevich, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
The company is conducting additional Phase 3 trials in China for pneumoconiosis and has paused trials for other indications.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2025
For example, biomedical scientists and clinicians trained by NIH grants are addressing locally relevant issues such as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, commonly known as black lung disease, which occurs when coal dust is inhaled.
—Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Exposure to silica and coal dust is a contributing factor for black lung disease, or coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and a more severe form of progressive massive fibrosis.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Silicosis is an occupational pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust present in minerals like sandstone.
—Leah Willingham and Matthew Daly, Anchorage Daily News, 25 July 2023
Coal miners’ pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease, affects one in five veteran miners in central Appalachia, according to a 2018 report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the rate of disease has risen dramatically since 2000.
—Grace Segers, The New Republic, 19 Dec. 2021
Miners are at risk of silicosis, pneumoconiosis (black lung) and other diseases from coal dust.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2015
Cite this Entry
“Pneumoconiosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pneumoconiosis. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pneumoconiosis
noun
pneu·mo·co·ni·o·sis
ˌn(y)ü-mō-ˌkō-nē-ˈō-səs
plural pneumoconioses
-ˌsēz
: a disease of the lungs caused by the habitual inhalation of irritants (as mineral or metallic particles)
called also miner's asthma, miner's consumption, pneumonoconiosis
see black lung, silicosisLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share