thermal pollution

noun

: the discharge of heated liquid (such as wastewater from a factory) into natural waters at a temperature harmful to the environment

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web One form of pollution is thermal pollution, Whittie said. —

Erika Butler, baltimoresun.com, 27 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thermal pollution.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of thermal pollution was in 1966

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near thermal pollution

thermal noise

thermal pollution

thermal printer

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Thermal pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermal%20pollution. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Copy Citation