pollute

[puh-loot]

verb (used with object)

polluted, polluting 

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

Other Word Forms

• polluter noun
• pollutive adjective
• nonpolluting adjective
• unpolluting 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

The area of polluted ground stretches to about 100 acres, or the equivalent of about 65 - 70 football pitches.

From BBC

The vehicles tend to be heavier, larger and more polluting than other cars, and researchers say they are more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists.

From BBC

The authors said their findings at the Tijuana River point to a need for more research into air pollution coming from other polluted rivers and lakes around the world.

From Los Angeles Times

The water that once sustained the community is horribly polluted and younger characters dream of escape; Mal, the mother of two daughters, is visited by a shapeshifter in her dreams.

From Los Angeles Times

"It is much more difficult than it is in the US. It's more expensive. It's more polluting. It's more disruptive."

From BBC

Related Words

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