Etymology
From Middle English pollucion, from Anglo-Norman pollutiun, Middle French pollution, pollucion, and their source, post-classical Latin pollūtiō (defilement, desecration) (fourth 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 or lûma (filth, dirt, disgrace) and λῦμαξ or lûmax (rubbish, refuse), Old Irish loth (mud, dirt), Lithuanian lutynas (pool, puddle).
Noun
pollution (countable and uncountable, plural pollutions)
- Physical contamination, now especially the contamination of the environment by harmful substances, or by disruptive levels of noise, light etc.
- Something that pollutes; a pollutant.
- Moral or spiritual corruption; impurity, degradation, defilement.
Derived terms
- air pollution
- light pollution
- noise pollution
- overpollution
Related terms
- pollute
- polluter
Credits
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