pollutant
noun
pol·lut·ant
pə-ˈlü-tᵊnt 
plural pollutants
: something that pollutes
especially
: something (such as waste created by human activity) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use
sources of pollutants [=pollution] in the environment
Meanwhile, scientists warned that other air pollutants—especially from automobiles—might also be contributing to health problems, forest damage and decreased crop production. —
National Wildlife
National Wildlife Formaldehyde is an important atmospheric pollutant that can be produced in photochemical smog. —Des W. Connell
Des W. Connell A 165-foot cement tower contains radium-rich blends that have given off radon gas—a pollutant that can cause cancer. —Michael H. Brown
Michael H. Brown Examples of pollutant in a Sentence
filtered the pollutants out of the water
Recent Examples on the Web
As Chris recovered at home, Tammy frantically searched for a filtration system strong enough to block all potential pollutants.
—Nick Bowlin, The Frontier, 16 Feb. 2026
Capturing and feeding this CO₂ to microbes sidesteps the significant energy penalty of diluting it with air while also removing pollutants.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
What the repeal means is that there are virtually no enforceable vehicle emission standards for new cars and trucks and no way to limit the pollutants that create the greenhouses gases that are warming the planet and changing the climate.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Compressor stations release methane and other toxic air pollutants into the community, and pose a risk of explosion.
—Susan Moynihan, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
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Nick Bowlin, The Frontier, 16 Feb. 2026
Capturing and feeding this CO₂ to microbes sidesteps the significant energy penalty of diluting it with air while also removing pollutants.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
What the repeal means is that there are virtually no enforceable vehicle emission standards for new cars and trucks and no way to limit the pollutants that create the greenhouses gases that are warming the planet and changing the climate.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Compressor stations release methane and other toxic air pollutants into the community, and pose a risk of explosion.
—Susan Moynihan, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
Cite this Entry
“Pollutant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollutant. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pollutant
noun
pol·lut·ant
pə-ˈlüt-ᵊnt
: something that pollutes
Medical Definition
pollutant
noun
pol·lut·ant
pə-ˈlüt-ᵊnt
: something that pollutes
especially
: something (such as anthropogenic waste) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use
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