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

At these air pollution levels, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises that sensitive groups avoid long or intense outdoor activities and consider rescheduling moving them indoors. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

For years access to air pollution data was the preserve of governments, with the cost of more expensive, reference-grade machines often limiting the rollout of widespread monitoring. —Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 14 Nov. 2025

De-extinction doesn’t address the underlying causes of extinction, which include habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, natural resource extraction, and more. —JSTOR Daily, 13 Nov. 2025

Others, in academia and public interest groups, remain unconvinced that a technology notorious for long construction delays, triple-digit cost overruns and mine and mill pollution is up to the task of meeting skyrocketing demand. —Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 12 Nov. 2025

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