pollution
gb/pəlˈuʃən/ us/pəlˈuʃən/
B1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Harmful contamination of the environment
When dirty or harmful things get into the air, water, or land and make it unsafe.
Usage pattern:
[pollution] of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pollution' (the problem) with 'pollutant' (the harmful substance).
Synonyms
contamination (Often used for unwanted substances in any medium, not just environmental contexts.)
Antonyms
purity (Describes a state free from harmful substances or contamination.)
Collocations
air pollution
|water pollution
|reduce pollution
|pollution control
|pollution levels
Themes
environment
|science
|health
|nature
Examples
- Air pollution in the city has reached dangerous levels this week.
- The government is introducing new laws to combat water pollution.
- Factories are a major source of industrial pollution.
- Pollution from cars contributes to climate change.
- Plastic pollution is harming marine life around the world.
Learner examples
- Air pollution is bad for our health.
- The river has a lot of pollution.
- We must stop water pollution.
- The city is working to reduce pollution.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
2
Harmful contamination in non-environmental contexts
When something bad or harmful is added to a place, idea, or system, making it worse.
Usage pattern:
[pollution] of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'pollution' only refers to the environment and not realize it can be used for sound, culture, or ideas.
Synonyms
corruption (Used metaphorically for moral or systemic decay.)
Antonyms
integrity (State of being whole and uncorrupted in a non-physical sense.)
Collocations
moral pollution
|cultural pollution
|noise pollution
Themes
society
|culture
|science
|technology
Examples
- Some critics see certain TV shows as a form of cultural pollution.
- Noise pollution from the construction site kept residents awake at night.
- The internet can be a source of information but also of moral pollution.
Learner examples
- Noise pollution makes it hard to sleep.
- Some music is called cultural pollution by older people.
- There is too much noise pollution in the city.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pollution
IPA
GB/pəlˈuʃən/
US/pəlˈuʃən/
Syllables & stress
pol - lu - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lu)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pollution
- Plural: pollution, pollutions
Word family
Expressions
air pollution
1/ˈɛɹ pəlˈuʃən/
fixed phrase
Contamination of the air with harmful substances
Dirty or harmful things in the air that can hurt people, animals, and plants.
Examples
- Air pollution is a major problem in many big cities.
- The factory was fined for causing air pollution.
light pollution
1/lˈaɪt pəlˈuʃən/
fixed phrase
Too much artificial light at night
Too much man-made light at night that makes it hard to see stars and affects animals.
Examples
- Light pollution makes it hard to see the stars in the city.
- The park works to reduce light pollution to protect wildlife.
noise pollution
1/nˈɔɪz pəlˈuʃən/
fixed phrase
Harmful or disturbing loud sounds
Too much loud sound that bothers people or animals.
Examples
- Noise pollution from traffic affects our sleep.
- The airport expansion will increase noise pollution in the area.
water pollution
1/wˈɔtɚ pəlˈuʃən/
fixed phrase
Contamination of water with harmful substances
Dirty or harmful things in rivers, lakes, or oceans that can hurt people, animals, and plants.
Examples
- Water pollution has killed many fish in the lake.
- We need stronger laws to prevent water pollution.