nonpoint

American

[non-point] / ˈnɒnˌpɔɪnt /

adjective

of or relating to a source of pollution that is not readily and specifically identifiable, as water runoff.

Etymology

Origin of nonpoint

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Livestock manure and crop fertilizer are major causes of nonpoint source pollution from agriculture.

From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2023

Washington has been as slow to regulate nitrogen from these nonpoint sources as it has sewage treatment plants.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 10, 2021

In exchange, the communities have agreed to follow a 23-year state plan that calls for a 45% reduction in nitrogen from other nonpoint sources like storm water runoff and taking more residents off septic tanks.

From Washington Times • Feb. 20, 2020

Pollutants enter water supplies from point sources, which are readily identifiable and relatively small locations, or nonpoint sources, which are large and more diffuse areas.

From Textbooks • Sep. 6, 2018

Point source pollution can be attributed to a single, definable source, while nonpoint source pollution is from multiple dispersed sources.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023