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 man-made waste
Abandoned mining and milling operations are already implicated in pollution of the river with toxic and radioactive waste products … —
Larry Brown
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
Anthony DePalma2
: something that pollutes
especially
: something (such as man-made 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
Chief among them are determining the boundary of the dump site, mapping the spread of the pollution and tracking its migration across the food web.
—Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2024
Fans are also being encouraged to take public transportation or carpool to and from the album listening parties to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollution 
Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2024
Fans are also being encouraged to take public transportation or carpool to and from the album listening parties to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for pollution
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pollution.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pollution
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollution. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Medical Definition
pollution
noun
pol·lu·tion
pə-ˈlü-shən
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