pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

a

: the action of polluting

especially : the action of making an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use by introducing chemical or manufacturing waste

Abandoned mining and milling operations are already implicated in pollution of the river with toxic and radioactive waste products …

—Larry Brown

b

: the condition of being polluted

A three-year study … has indicated that the lake already is suffering from severe pollution and that any additional development will exacerbate it.

—Anthony DePalma

2

: something that pollutes

especially : something (such as chemical or manufacturing waste) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use

tested the levels of pollution [=pollutants] in the water

Examples of pollution in a Sentence

industrial practices that have caused pollution of the air and water

The tests showed high levels of pollution in the water.

The fish are dying of pollution.

Recent Examples on the Web

If two endangered avian travelers can overcome and overlook a legacy of industrial pollution along the lakefront, so can humans. —Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026

All recycling companies must follow regulations, and companies that create dust pollution must build protective barriers to prevent dust from spreading into residential areas. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026

California has always paid a little more at the pump for a cleaner blend of gasoline that reduces pollution in the air and keeps our communities healthier, especially urban environments that used to suffer from heavy smog. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026

In the future, researchers hope to develop a trigger for the spores in water, where a large portion of plastic pollution ends up. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pollution

• light pollution
• noise pollution
• thermal pollution

Rhymes for pollution

• ablution
• aleutian
• confucian
• dilution
• elution
• locution
• solution
• volution
• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution

Kids Definition

pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

: the action of polluting : the state of being polluted

air pollution

compare noise pollution, thermal pollution

2

: pollutant

Medical Definition

pollution

noun

pol·​lu·​tion pə-ˈlü-shən 

1

: the action of polluting or the condition of being polluted

2

: something (such as anthropogenic waste) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use : pollutant