pollutant
noun
pol·lut·ant
pə-ˈlü-tᵊnt 
plural pollutants
: something that pollutes
especially
: something (such as anthropogenic waste) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use
sources of pollutants [=pollution] in the environment
Meanwhile, scientists warned that other air pollutants—especially from automobiles—might also be contributing to health problems, forest damage and decreased crop production. —
National Wildlife
National Wildlife Formaldehyde is an important atmospheric pollutant that can be produced in photochemical smog. —Des W. Connell
Des W. Connell A 165-foot cement tower contains radium-rich blends that have given off radon gas—a pollutant that can cause cancer. —Michael H. Brown
Michael H. Brown Examples of pollutant in a Sentence
filtered the pollutants out of the water
Recent Examples on the Web
On one end, oil refining emits more air pollutants than any other process in the oil industry.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Results show that microbial iron mining can immobilize toxic metals and convert stubborn pollutants into less harmful compounds.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
There is trash and pollutants from the tourists and gravel has been mined from the area to make trekking routes for people, disturbing the places where females may have laid their eggs, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Some of the difference could also come from changes in aerosols, small particles in the atmosphere ranging from pollutants to dust or sea salt, that reflect solar radiation.
—Ryan Green, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
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Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Results show that microbial iron mining can immobilize toxic metals and convert stubborn pollutants into less harmful compounds.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
There is trash and pollutants from the tourists and gravel has been mined from the area to make trekking routes for people, disturbing the places where females may have laid their eggs, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Some of the difference could also come from changes in aerosols, small particles in the atmosphere ranging from pollutants to dust or sea salt, that reflect solar radiation.
—Ryan Green, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pollutant
Cite this Entry
“Pollutant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollutant. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pollutant
noun
pol·lut·ant
pə-ˈlüt-ᵊnt
: something that pollutes
Medical Definition
pollutant
noun
pol·lut·ant
pə-ˈlüt-ᵊnt
: something that pollutes
especially
: something (such as anthropogenic waste) that makes an environment unsuitable or unsafe for use
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