polluting

adjective

pol·​lut·​ing pə-ˈlü-tiŋ How to pronounce polluting (audio)
: causing pollution
… a region that has been dependent upon basic industries such as coal mining and metal work—relatively polluting industries.Patricia L. Layman
The recycling process itself can be polluting. Recyclers find it difficult to separate recyclable from nonrecyclable plastics, which causes the end product to be useless.Sally Hayhow Cullen

Examples of polluting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So policy makers are focusing on creating alternatives: promoting agricultural waste recycling programs, for example, or promoting cooking with less polluting fuels. Olivia Ferrari, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2024 With fast fashion the second-most polluting industry in the world, the trade show is in response to the rampant overconsumption, growing awareness among the youth looking to be better consumers and the secondhand market changing the way consumption can become investments. Fairchild Studio, WWD, 28 Oct. 2024 Six years ago, Baird had a wake-up call and realized how the fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting industries. Yola Robert, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 The fashion industry is ranked as the second most polluting business in the world by the UN and 7% of landfills is garments. Joan Michelson, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for polluting 

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polluting was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near polluting

Cite this Entry

“Polluting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polluting. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!