English Lexicon

Polluted Water

/pəˈluːtɪd ˈwɔːtər/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    Water that has been contaminated with harmful substances, making it unsafe for drinking or other uses.

    "The river was declared unsafe for swimming due to the presence of polluted water."
  2. 2

    Water that is adversely affected by human activity, leading to ecological damage.

    "Efforts are underway to clean up the polluted water in the industrial area."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'polluted' originates from the Latin 'pollutus', meaning 'to defile or make unclean', while 'water' comes from the Old English 'wæter', which has Germanic roots. The combination reflects a historical concern for the cleanliness of water sources, particularly as industrialization increased pollution levels in the 19th century.

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