verb
A2
Elementary
pollute
puh-LOOT
Pollute (verb) means to make air, water, or land dirty or harmful, usually by adding waste or chemicals. Example: “The factory was fined for polluting the river with chemical runoff.”
verb
1
To make air, water, or land dirty or harmful, usually by adding waste or chemicals.
"The factory was fined for polluting the river with chemical runoff."
"Car exhaust pollutes the air in busy cities."
2
To spoil or corrupt something figuratively, such as an idea, discussion, or reputation.
"Rumors polluted the negotiations before they even began."
How to use pollute
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo dirty or contaminate something, usually the environment, with harmful substances.
Common pairings
pollute the air
pollute a river
pollute the environment
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- pollutes
- Past tense
- polluted
- Comparative
- more pollute
- Superlative
- most pollute
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Car exhaust _____ the air in busy cities.
Etymology
From Latin pollūtus, "defiled" or "unclean," the past participle of polluō, "to soil or dishonor."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for pollute
See all rhymes for 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.
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