emission

noun

emis·​sion ē-ˈmi-shən 

1

a

: an act or instance of emitting : emanation

b

archaic : publication

c

: a putting into circulation

2

a

: something sent forth by emitting: such as

(1)

: electromagnetic radiation from an antenna or a celestial body

(2)

usually emissions : substances discharged into the air (as by a smokestack or an automobile engine)

b

: effluvium

emissive

ē-ˈmi-siv 

adjective

Examples of emission in a Sentence

trying to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases

Recent Examples on the Web

The company also says technological improvements across the 737 MAX program reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, without specifying the comparison baseline in the announcement. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, the use of clean grid power through ADNOC’s partnership with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) is helping to further reduce its emissions profile. — H.e. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Fahnbulleh said bringing Jackdaw into production was compatible with Britain’s legally binding target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and reiterated her commitment to legislation banning new North Sea licenses. — Reuters, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026

Climate policies are reducing emissions Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement just over a decade ago, global renewable electricity capacity has grown three times faster than anticipated, while solar PV build-out has increased seven times faster. — Simmone Shah, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing emission

• acoustic emission
• positron-emission tomography
• re-emission
• secondary emission

Rhymes for emission

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

emission

noun

emis·​sion ē-ˈmish-ən 

1

: an act or instance of emitting

2

: something emitted or discharged

emissive

ē-ˈmis-iv 

adjective

Medical Definition

emission

noun

emis·​sion ē-ˈmish-ən 

1

: an act or instance of emitting

2

a

: something sent forth by emitting: as

(1)

: electrons discharged from a surface

(2)

: electromagnetic waves radiated by an antenna or a celestial body

(3)

: substances and especially pollutants discharged into the air (as by a smokestack or an automobile gasoline engine)

b

: a discharge of fluid from a living body

especially : ejaculate see nocturnal emission