aerosol

American  

[air-uh-sawl, -sol] / ˈɛər əˌsɔl, -ˌsɒl /

noun

1. Physical Chemistry. a system of colloidal particles dispersed in a gas and commonly formed as smoke, fog, mist, haze, or smog.

   a radioactive aerosol;

   aerosols in the stratosphere.

2. a liquid substance, as a disinfectant or deodorant, sealed in a metal container under pressure with an inert gas or other activating agent and released as a spray or foam through a push-button valve or nozzle.

   an aerosol for cleaning ovens.

3. Physiology, Pathology. a mist that lingers in the air, composed of fine particles (less than 5 micrometers in diameter) that form from the evaporation of respiratory droplets (5–10 micrometers in diameter) released into the air through talking, breathing, singing, whistling, coughing, sneezing, etc..

   Recommended precautions against virus-laden aerosols vary according to the type of virus.

4. aerosol bomb.

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adjective

1. of or containing a liquid or gas under pressure for dispensing as a spray or foam.

   a deodorant available in aerosol cans.

aerosol British  

/ ˈɛərəˌsɒl /

noun

1. a colloidal dispersion of solid or liquid particles in a gas; smoke or fog

2. a substance, such as a paint, polish, or insecticide, dispensed from a small metal container by a propellant under pressure

3. Also called: air spray.  such a substance together with its container

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aerosol Scientific  

/ âr′ə-sôl′ /

1. A substance consisting of very fine particles of a liquid or solid suspended in a gas. Mist, which consists of very fine droplets of water in air, is an aerosol.

2. Compare emulsion foam

3. A liquid substance, such as paint, an insecticide, or a hair spray, packaged under pressure for use or application as a fine spray.

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Etymology

Origin of aerosol

First recorded in 1920–25; aero- + sol ⁴

Explanation

An aerosol is a substance released in very fine mist, like oven cleaner or air freshener. An aerosol contains tiny particles of liquid or solid suspended within a gas. Spray paint is an aerosol product, released at the press of a button in a hissing spray. The aerosol paint emerges in the form of a gas, and adheres to the surface as a solid color. Aerosol products can be dangerous, since they're very flammable and can cause health problems if people inhale them. The word was coined in 1919, from a combination of aero-, "air" in Greek, and sol, short for solution.

Example Sentences

Then there was an explosion—likely an aerosol can.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

A man in a hoodie and mask, who authorities said was Bradbury, walks into a kitchen with an aerosol can, allegedly a poison for bugs, and sprays everything in sight.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

The study, published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics Rapids, updates a formula that is more than 100 years old and addresses a major gap in aerosol science.

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2026

Rainmaker developed its own aerosol dispersal system, which avoids flares and the additional chemicals they produce, and targets specific clouds with the right atmospheric conditions with a fleet of nimble drones.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

“My guess is that the needle injected you with a transmitter,” he says, “and the gas was an aerosol version of the liquid that alters the brain. But why...”

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Related Words

• sprayer
• sprinkler