polluted

word · lemma: pollute

Definition

Made dirty or unsafe by harmful substances, especially relating to air, water, or land.

Usage & Nuances

'Polluted' is formal or neutral and commonly used with 'air', 'water', 'rivers', 'city', and 'environment'. It usually refers to harmful chemicals or waste, not just dirt. Don't confuse with 'dirty', which means only physically unclean.

Example Sentences

Fish can't live in polluted water.

basic

It's hard to breathe when the air gets really polluted.

natural

Many cities have polluted air.

basic

The river is polluted.

basic

The beach was so polluted that nobody wanted to swim there.

natural

After the factory opened, the lake quickly became polluted.

natural