pollutant

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A foreign substance that makes something dirty, or impure, especially waste from human activities.

   Acid rain forms when water in the atmosphere condenses on particles containing acid-forming pollutants, such as sulfate produced by the burning of fossil fuels and nitrogen oxides from automobile exhausts.

2. 2
   noun

   waste matter that contaminates the water or air or soil

Etymology

From pollute + -ant.