smog

\ ˈsmäg

, ˈsmȯg \

Definition of smog

: a fog made heavier and darker by smoke and chemical fumes also : a photochemical haze caused by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on atmosphere polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen especially from automobile exhaust

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Examples of smog in a Sentence

the city's smog was once so bad that darkness often prevailed, even at noon

Recent Examples on the Web Many moved in from California, eager to escape the traffic, crime, and smog. — BostonGlobe.com, "For decades, Coeur d’Alene has navigated a delicate political landscape in northern Idaho, a conservative corner of the country where some have sought refuge from political and social changes elsewhere.," 11 Nov. 2019 In addition to methane, trees can emit what are known as volatile organic compounds, which are themselves not greenhouse gases, but can interact with other gases in the atmosphere to cause ozone and photochemical smog. — Denise Chow, NBC News, "Tree-planting campaigns are gaining momentum, but climate researchers warn they're not a silver bullet," 11 Nov. 2019 Many moved in from California, eager to escape the traffic, crime and smog. — Mike Baker, New York Times, "Whodunit in the Library: Someone Keeps Hiding the Anti-Trump Books," 10 Nov. 2019 Fires and smog are a persistent problem during the summer months caused by slash and burn techniques to clear the land for agricultural purposes. — Eric Cheung, CNN, "Wildfires and smog turn parts of Indonesia into a Mars-like hellscape," 24 Sep. 2019 In the past, when society reached tipping points on industrial nasties such as leaded gasoline or smog, government acted to curb them. — Washington Post, "The Hydrocarbon Era’s Spectacular End," 7 Aug. 2019 Southern California and smog have long been synonymous in the cultural imagination. — Julia Wick, latimes.com, "Essential California: The war on smog is stalling after decades of improvement," 2 July 2019 Higher temperatures increase the chances for fires and smog. — Anchorage Daily News, "US air quality slips after years of improvement," 18 June 2019 Buffered from the drone of the traffic and smog in North America’s most populous metropolis, the former rock quarry’s flowering shrubs and babbling creek are a haven for hummingbirds. — National Geographic, "Inside the Black Market Hummingbird Love Charm Trade," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smog.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

17 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Smog.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smog. Accessed 11 December 2019.

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More Definitions for smog

smog

noun

English Language Learners Definition of smog

: fog mixed with smoke : a cloud of dirty air from cars, factories, etc., that is usually found in cities

See the full definition for smog in the English Language Learners Dictionary

smog

noun

\ ˈsmäg

\

Kids Definition of smog

: a fog made heavier and thicker by the action of sunlight on polluted air

smog

noun

\ ˈsmäg also ˈsmȯg \

Medical Definition of smog

: a fog made heavier and darker by smoke and chemical fumes also : a photochemical haze caused by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on atmosphere polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen especially from automobile exhaust

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