pollute

[ puh-loot ]

verb (used with object)

, pol·lut·ed, pol·lut·ing.

1. to make foul or unclean, especially with harmful chemical or waste products; dirty:

   to pollute the air with smoke.

   Synonyms: befoul, soil

   Antonyms: purify

2. to make morally unclean; defile.

   Synonyms: deprave, debase, corrupt, vitiate, contaminate, taint

   Antonyms: purify

3. to render ceremonially impure; desecrate:

   to pollute a house of worship.

4. Informal. to render less effective or efficient:

   The use of inferior equipment has polluted the company's service.

pollute

/ pəˈluːt /

verb

1. to contaminate, as with poisonous or harmful substances
2. to make morally corrupt or impure; sully
3. to desecrate or defile

Derived Forms

• polˈluter, noun

Other Words From

• pol·luter noun
• pol·lutive adjective
• nonpol·luting adjective
• unpol·luting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pollute¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English polute, from Latin pollūtus, past participle of polluere “to soil, defile,” equivalent to pol-, assimilated variant of por- “forth, forward” (variant of prefix per- ), here marking completed action + -lū- base of -luere (akin to lutum “mud, dirt,” lustrum “muddy place”) + -tus past participle suffix; per-

Word History and Origins

Origin of pollute¹

C14 polute, from Latin polluere to defile

Example Sentences

Oil also still accounts for a large share of polluting emissions due to its use in powering cars and trucks.

From Popular-Science

“I think that’s really neat, because otherwise, this stuff would have just sat there, polluting the environment,” he said.

From Washington Post

That’s because all the federal and state permits require knowing first what’s polluting it.

From Voice of San Diego

This year, Oregon State University released two studies which found logging can cause long-lasting water shortages and pollute drinking water with herbicides and dirt.

From ProPublica

The cartoonist boldly drew and held the line against merchandising his creation, lest commercial tie-ins pollute the purity of the creator and reader experience.

From Washington Post

Heaven forbid we pollute young minds with such right-wing neocon propaganda!

From The Daily Beast

We pollute, but our feeble efforts at cleanup have been largely unsuccessful.

From The Daily Beast

Livestock degrade land, contribute to climate change, pollute water, and destroy biodiversity.

From The Daily Beast

Look for this aquaculture to catch on as mankind, unfortunately, continues to pollute our waterways.

From The Daily Beast

Moreover, a neighbor may pollute the water supply, foul the air, and adulterate the food.

From Project Gutenberg

And hence, bound by religion, they did not dare to pollute fire destined for daily uses with any uncleanliness.

From Project Gutenberg

His pause attracted the notice of one of the unhappy beings whom we suffer to pollute our streets and rot in our hospitals.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the Papists began again to pollute the land, which God had lately plagued.

From Project Gutenberg

The sound of his voice should never be suffered to pollute the Hall of the Representatives of the American people.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• contaminate
• foul
• infect
• poison
• stain
• taint
• violate