What does "pollution" mean?

1. (environmental contamination) damage caused to water, air, or land by harmful waste or chemicals. 2. (disruptive noise or light) too much noise or light in a place that makes it unpleasant or difficult to see the stars. 3. (moral or spiritual corruption) the act of making something pure or holy dirty in a moral way.

How do you use "pollution"?

Usually uncountable when referring to the general phenomenon.

pollution

US //pəˈɫuʃən// UK //pəlˈuːʃən// pol·lu·tion

1 environmental contamination (n.)
A2 Elementary

damage caused to water, air, or land by harmful waste or chemicals.

the presence or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.

Example

The factory was fined for dumping chemicals that caused water pollution in the local river.

Example

Industrial pollution remains a significant threat to biodiversity in the region, as toxic runoff continues to seep into the groundwater supply.

Usage

Usually uncountable when referring to the general phenomenon.
- contamination
- impurity
- purity
- cleanliness
2 disruptive noise or light (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

too much noise or light in a place that makes it unpleasant or difficult to see the stars.

the presence of disruptive or excessive levels of artificial light or noise in the environment.

Example

Light pollution from the big city makes it hard to see the stars at night.

Example

Urban planners are increasingly concerned with noise pollution, implementing stricter zoning laws to protect residential areas from highway traffic sounds.
- disturbance
- interference

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3 moral or spiritual corruption (n.)
C2 Proficiency Literary Formal Religion

the act of making something pure or holy dirty in a moral way.

the state of being morally or spiritually corrupted or defiled.

Example

The priest spoke about the pollution of the soul by greed and envy.

Example

The text explores the symbolic pollution of the sacred temple by those who prioritised material wealth over spiritual devotion.

Teacher's tip

This sense is rare in modern conversation and is almost exclusively found in religious or historical academic contexts.
- defilement
- corruption
- impurity
- sanctity
- virtue

Origin

From Middle English pollucioun, pollucion (“desecration, impurity”), from Anglo-Norman pollutiun, Middle French pollution, pollucion, and their source, post-classical Latin pollūtiō (“defilement, desecration; nocturnal emission”) (4th century), from the participial stem of polluō (“to soil, defile, contaminate”), from por- (“before”) + -luō (“to smear”), related to lutum (“mud”) and luēs (“filth”). Compare Ancient Greek λῦμα (lûma, “filth, dirt, disgrace”) and λῦμαξ (lûmax, “rubbish, refuse”), Old Irish loth (“mud, dirt”), Lithuanian lutynas (“pool, puddle”).