Definitions for Pollutionpəˈlu ʃən

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

pol•lu•tionpəˈlu ʃən(n.)

the act of polluting or the state of being polluted.
Category: Ecology
the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment:
air pollution.
Category: Ecology

Origin of pollution:

1350–1400; ME (< OF) < LL

Princeton's WordNet

pollution(noun)
undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities
befoulment, defilement, pollution(noun)
the state of being polluted
contamination, pollution(noun)
the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

pollution(noun)əˈlu ʃən
harmful substances that damage the air, water, or land
water/air pollution

Wiktionary

pollution(Noun)
The act of polluting or the state of being polluted, especially the contamination of the environment by harmful substances.
Nobody visits the river any more because of all the pollution.
pollution(Noun)
Something that pollutes; a pollutant.
pollution(Noun)
Physical defilement
pollution(Noun)
The emission of semen at other times than in sexual intercourse.

Origin: Recorded since c.1340, as "discharge of semen other than during sex," later, "desecration, defilement" (1382), from Late pollutio "defilement," from Latin polluere "to soil, defile, contaminate", itself from por- "before" + -luere "to smear" (related to lutum "mud" and to lues "filth", compare Greek (lyma) "filth, dirt, disgrace" and (lymax) "rubbish, refuse," Old Irish loth "mud, dirt," Lithuanian lutynas "pool, puddle"). Sense of "contamination of the environment" first recorded c.1860

Webster Dictionary

Pollution(noun)
the act of polluting, or the state of being polluted (in any sense of the verb); defilement; uncleanness; impurity
Pollution(noun)
the emission of semen, or sperm, at other times than in sexual intercourse