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smog
/smɒɡ/
air pollution mixture
The city's skyline disappeared behind a thick layer of smog.
The air pollution was so bad that buildings were no longer visible.
technical
A type of air pollution that is a mixture of smoke and fog, often found in urban areas.
Industrial cities often struggle with smog due to vehicle emissions and factory pollution.
Pollution from cars and factories creates a harmful haze over industrial areas.
The government implemented new policies to reduce smog levels in metropolitan areas.
New regulations were introduced to improve air quality in cities.
Smog is typically worse in areas with high traffic and industrial activity. It can cause respiratory problems and reduce visibility.
Collocations
industrial smogsmog caused primarily by industrial activitiesphotochemical smogsmog formed by chemical reactions between sunlight and pollutants like nitrogen oxidessmog alerta warning issued when air pollution reaches dangerous levelsreduce smogto take actions that lower air pollution levels
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Distinguish from fog
While fog is simply a collection of water droplets suspended in the air, smog is a harmful mixture of pollutants. Remember: 'smog' = 'smoke' + 'fog' to recall its polluted nature.
Gold Rule
Smog vs. haze
Haze refers to a general lack of transparency in the air due to dry particles, while smog specifically involves pollutants from human activities like vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions.
Word Origin
Blend of 'smoke' and 'fog' (first used in the early 20th century). The term was coined to describe the thick, polluted air common in industrial cities like London.
Usage Notes
Smog is most commonly associated with urban environments and is often worse during temperature inversions, when cooler air traps pollutants near the ground. It can have serious health impacts, particularly for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Word Breakdown
smoke
exhalation from burning substances
rootfog
thick cloud of water droplets near the ground
rootEnglish Dictionary