pollution
pronunciation
How to pronounce pollution in British English:
UK [pəˈluːʃn]
How to pronounce pollution in American English:
US [pəˈluːʃn]
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- Noun:
- undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities
- the state of being polluted
- the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors
Word Origin
- pollution (n.)
- mid-14c., "discharge of semen other than during sex," later, "desecration, defilement" (late 14c.), from Late Latin pollutionem (nominative pollutio) "defilement," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin polluere "to soil, defile, contaminate," from por- "before" + -luere "smear," from PIE root *leu- "dirt; make dirty" (cognates: Latin lutum "mud, mire, clay," lues "filth;" Greek lyma "filth, dirt, disgrace," lymax "rubbish, refuse;" Old Irish loth "mud, dirt;" Lithuanian lutynas "pool, puddle"). Sense of "contamination of the environment" first recorded c. 1860, but not common until c. 1955.
Example
- 1. Bremmer isn 't saying pollution isn 't a problem .
- 2. She calls the phenomenon " gender pollution . "
- 3. You 'll help reduce waste and air pollution .
- 4. Buses make less pollution than cars .
- 5. Pollution is the classic example .