polluting
polluting — adjective
1. describing a material, fuel, activity, or process that adds dangerous substances
describing a material, fuel, activity, or process that adds dangerous substances to the natural surroundings, making the air, water, or soil less clean and safe
The government introduced stricter rules for polluting industries near residential areas.
attributive: polluting + industries
Kemi replaced her old car with an electric one to stop using polluting fuels.
attributive: polluting + fuels
Some polluting chemicals were banned after scientists proved they damaged the ozone layer.
The charity campaigned against polluting activities such as burning plastic waste in open fields.
Christopher chose a solar-powered heater instead of a polluting gas boiler for his flat.
- environmentally damaging
broader — includes harm that is not chemical, such as habitat destruction or noise
- contaminating
more specific; focuses on making something impure through direct contact with a pollutant
- eco-friendly
describes something designed not to harm the environment
- clean
in this context, producing little or no waste or harmful emissions
文法句型
polluting + noun (industries, fuels, chemicals, activities)
用法筆記
This adjective is almost always placed before a noun — for example, 'polluting industries' or 'polluting chemicals'. It is rarely used after a linking verb ('is polluting').
常見錯誤
polluting — verb
1. to release harmful substances into the environment — the air, a river, or the gr
to release harmful substances into the environment — the air, a river, or the ground, for example — making it dirty and unsafe for humans and wildlife
Factory waste from the textile plant polluted the nearby river, killing all the fish.
transitive: pollute + river (object + result clause)
Xiu's research showed that plastic microfibers were polluting the ocean at alarming rates.
passive progressive: were polluting + ocean
The oil spill polluted kilometres of coastline, forcing beaches to close for months.
Farmers were told not to use certain pesticides because they pollute groundwater supplies.
Élise joined a volunteer group that tests local streams for polluting farm runoff.
- contaminate
broader — can apply to food, water, or any substance, not just the natural environment; slightly more formal
- foul
implies making something dirty or unpleasant, often with waste; somewhat literary
- poison
stronger — suggests the substance is toxic enough to cause death or serious harm
文法句型
pollute + noun (air, water, soil, rivers, the environment)
用法筆記
The most common direct objects are 'air', 'water', 'soil', 'river', 'ocean', and 'environment'. The passive form is frequent in news and academic writing: 'The river was polluted by factory waste.' Distinguish from the adjective sense (adj/1): the adjective describes the cause itself (polluting fuels), while the verb describes the act of releasing pollutants.