What does pollution mean?

Definitions for pollution
pəˈlu ʃənpol·lu·tion

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word pollution.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pollutionnoun

    undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities

  2. befoulment, defilement, pollutionnoun

    the state of being polluted

  3. contamination, pollutionnoun

    the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors

Wiktionary

  1. pollutionnoun

    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.

  2. pollutionnoun

    Something that pollutes; a pollutant.

  3. pollutionnoun

    Physical defilement

  4. pollutionnoun

    The emission of semen at other times than in sexual intercourse.

  5. Etymology: 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

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Pollutionnoun

    Etymology: pollution, Fr. pollutio, Latin.

    The contrary to consecration is pollution, which happens in churches by homicide, and burying an excommunicated person in the church. John Ayliffe, Parergon.

    Their strife pollution brings
    Upon the temple. John Milton, Par Lost, b. xii.

Wikipedia

  1. Pollution

    Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events, the word pollution generally implies that the contaminants have an anthropogenic source – that is, a source created by human activities. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. In 2015, pollution killed nine million people worldwide (one in six deaths). This remained unchanged in 2019, with little real progress against pollution being identifiable. Air pollution accounted for 3⁄4 of these earlier deaths.Major forms of pollution include air pollution, light pollution, litter, noise pollution, plastic pollution, soil contamination, radioactive contamination, thermal pollution, visual pollution, and water pollution.

ChatGPT

  1. pollution

    Pollution is the introduction or presence of contaminants, typically human-made, into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. These contaminants, or pollutants, can occur in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases and can cause harm or discomfort to humans, animals, and the environment. Pollution can occur in various forms such as air, water, soil, noise, and light pollution, and can result from various activities such as industrial processes, waste disposal, and deforestation.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pollutionnoun

    the act of polluting, or the state of being polluted (in any sense of the verb); defilement; uncleanness; impurity

  2. Pollutionnoun

    the emission of semen, or sperm, at other times than in sexual intercourse

  3. Etymology: [L. pollutio: cf. F. pollution.]

Wikidata

  1. Pollution

    Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution.

Editors Contribution

  1. pollution

    pollution actually means something which is very bad for our environment .

    the oceans are getting polluted by oil spill by big ships


    Submitted by ruchavbk on February 6, 2020  

Suggested Resources

  1. pollution

    Song lyrics by pollution -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by pollution on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'pollution' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2463

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'pollution' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4028

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'pollution' in Nouns Frequency: #1079

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce pollution?

How to say pollution in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of pollution in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of pollution in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of pollution in a Sentence

  1. Mina Gaga:

    We need stricter policies for cleaner air to reduce the impact of pollution on health worldwide because we are already seeing a new population of young adults with health issues.

  2. Krit Phromsakla:

    We have not been overwhelmed, we can still receive more patients but the number of people receiving treatment related to air pollution is higher, according to statistics we have collected from past 3 years, the number should gradually decrease when we approach the end of April… (but) we will continue to be vigilant monitoring the situation.

  3. Amy Khor:

    We do not face the land and water pollution issues that plague those countries.

  4. Mayor Wang Anshun:

    We are prepared to reduce the use of coal, alleviate pollution caused by traffic, extend the use of new energy vehicles and ask more polluting plants to move out of Beijing, we promise the air quality will meet World Health Organisation standards by the start of the winter of 2022.

  5. John Holloway:

    We must also remember that it is not just the acute effects of pollution on children's health mentioned in the report that we need to be concerned about, it is also the potential long-term effects of exposure to pollutants in early life that can have lifelong effects on health and well-being.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

pollution#1#4599#10000

Translations for pollution

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"pollution." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 17 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/pollution>.

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