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
The Salish Sea grew toxic from pollutants, and the fish the orcas evolved to hunt with deadly precision became scarce.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Burning coal also emits multiple air pollutants, prematurely killing half a million people in the United States from 1999 through 2020.
—Hannah Wiseman, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
Kim said the research highlighted the importance of understanding how indoor sources contribute to airborne pollutants and how that knowledge can shape public health policies.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
In the case of Hurricane Harvey, for example, petrochemical companies smothered Texas communities with thousands of extra tons of benzene, sulfur dioxide, and other harmful pollutants.
—Cynthia Palmer, Time, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
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Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Burning coal also emits multiple air pollutants, prematurely killing half a million people in the United States from 1999 through 2020.
—Hannah Wiseman, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
Kim said the research highlighted the importance of understanding how indoor sources contribute to airborne pollutants and how that knowledge can shape public health policies.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
In the case of Hurricane Harvey, for example, petrochemical companies smothered Texas communities with thousands of extra tons of benzene, sulfur dioxide, and other harmful pollutants.
—Cynthia Palmer, Time, 9 Dec. 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 18 Dec. 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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