smog

noun

ˈsmäg 

ˈsmȯg

: a fog made heavier and darker by smoke and chemical fumes

also : a photochemical haze caused by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on atmosphere polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen especially from automobile exhaust

smogless

ˈsmä-gləs 

ˈsmȯ-

adjective

Synonyms

• brume
• fog
• gauze
• haze
• mist
• murk
• reek
• soup

Examples of smog in a Sentence

the city's smog was once so bad that darkness often prevailed, even at noon

Recent Examples on the Web

Crop fertilizers may be another major smog contributor, a new study finds. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

Pollution from coal fires, diesel buses and factories could not travel up to the atmosphere, instead hovering in a deadly, stagnant smog. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024

Delhi flights faced delays, with tracking website Flightradar24 showing 88% of departures and 54% of arrivals were delayed as of Thursday afternoon due to smog. —Reuters, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024

Utahns saw air pollution and smog as a more pressing problem than in any other Western state, per a Conservation in the West survey released in February. —Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

smoke + fog

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing smog

• anti-smog

Kids Definition

smog

noun

ˈsmäg 

 also  ˈsmȯg

: a thick haze caused by the action of sunlight on air polluted especially by smoke and automobile exhaust fumes

Etymology

from smoke and fog

Medical Definition

smog

noun

ˈsmäg also ˈsmȯg

: a fog made heavier and darker by smoke and chemical fumes

also : a photochemical haze caused by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on atmosphere polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen especially from automobile exhaust