pollute
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for pollute, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make air, water, or land dirty or harmful, usually by adding waste or chemicals.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use pollute
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
pollute the air
pollute a river
pollute the environment
Etymology
From Latin pollūtus, "defiled" or "unclean," the past participle of polluō, "to soil or dishonor."
Full origin of pollute →Frequently asked questions
What does “pollute” mean?
The word “pollute” means to make air, water, or land dirty or harmful, usually by adding waste or chemicals. In plain terms, to dirty or contaminate something, usually the environment, with harmful substances.
How do you pronounce “pollute”?
“Pollute” is pronounced puh-LOOT (/pəˈluːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “pollute” in a sentence?
Here is “pollute” used in a sentence: “Car exhaust pollutes the air in busy cities.”
What part of speech is “pollute”?
“Pollute” is a verb.
Where does the word “pollute” come from?
The word “pollute” comes from Latin. From Latin pollūtus, "defiled" or "unclean," the past participle of polluō, "to soil or dishonor.".
How many meanings does “pollute” have?
“Pollute” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make air, water, or land dirty or harmful, usually by adding waste or chemicals.
