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
The slough, which can be seen from the BART pedestrian bridge that brings event attendees into the Coliseum grounds, also receives runoff from the Arroyo Viejo and Lion creeks, a pair of urban streams known for their pollution.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Some cases have been dismissed by judges who ruled that climate pollution is an issue for the federal government to deal with.
—Michael Copley, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
In the way that industry-wide consortia have coalesced around plastic pollution or microfiber leakage, Hakansson would like to see similar collaborative action rally around methane with fewer than five years left until 2030.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
Multiple studies have been published that attribute an increase in marine heat waves and accelerated warming in the North Pacific Ocean to global warming pollution from burning fossil fuels.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
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Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Some cases have been dismissed by judges who ruled that climate pollution is an issue for the federal government to deal with.
—Michael Copley, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
In the way that industry-wide consortia have coalesced around plastic pollution or microfiber leakage, Hakansson would like to see similar collaborative action rally around methane with fewer than five years left until 2030.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
Multiple studies have been published that attribute an increase in marine heat waves and accelerated warming in the North Pacific Ocean to global warming pollution from burning fossil fuels.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollution
Cite this Entry
“Pollution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollution. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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
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
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