pollutant
noun
pol·lut·ant
pə-ˈlü-tᵊnt 
plural pollutants
: something that pollutes
especially
: something (such as waste created by human acitivity) 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
In fact, air purifiers that are designed with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are quite successful at removing both pollutants and much of the dust from indoor air.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Today slop’s pejorative bite is increasingly aimed at all things AI, treating it as an undeniable cultural pollutant.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025
The researchers now plan to explore how these conditions influence the breakdown of OPEs and other emerging pollutants.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
And in Tennessee’s South Memphis, the methane gas turbines that power an xAI data center give off air pollutants contributing to smog and formaldehyde.
—Natalie Kainz, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
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Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Today slop’s pejorative bite is increasingly aimed at all things AI, treating it as an undeniable cultural pollutant.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2025
The researchers now plan to explore how these conditions influence the breakdown of OPEs and other emerging pollutants.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
And in Tennessee’s South Memphis, the methane gas turbines that power an xAI data center give off air pollutants contributing to smog and formaldehyde.
—Natalie Kainz, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
Cite this Entry
“Pollutant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollutant. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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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