acid rain

noun

: rain that has increased acidity caused by environmental factors (such as atmospheric pollutants)

Examples of acid rain in a Sentence

trees damaged by acid rain

Recent Examples on the Web

These fires result in incomplete combustion, releasing a toxic slurry of carbon monoxide, soot, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides that can form acid rain, along with metallic compounds and oil droplets. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026

The fear of a refinery spewing sulfur-dioxide soot and unleashing acid rain, Yoder said, was enough to prompt the county health department to create a pollution-control office to enforce air-quality regulations and end the refinery plans. —Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026

The acid rain can also be corrosive, depending on the concentration, and accelerate the corrosion that buildings in Tehran face regularly due to the poor air quality, Driscoll said. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026

The Iranian Red Crescent Society warned Tehran residents to take precautions against toxic air pollution and the risk of acid rain from the oil depot attack. —Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for acid rain

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• gethsemane
• halothane
• hurricane

Kids Definition

acid rain

noun

: rain with increased acidity that is caused by environmental factors (as atmospheric pollutants)

Medical Definition

acid rain

noun

: acid precipitation especially in the form of rain