smog
SMOG
/smɒɡ/
Fog or haze intensified by smoke or other atmospheric pollutants.
Usually refers to the visible, brownish-grey haze over cities, often caused by vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions.
The story behind the word. Coined in 1905 by Dr. Henry Antoine Des Voeux in a paper for the Public Health Congress to describe the soot-filled fog of London.
Word relationships
- haze: Haze can be natural (dust/salt), while smog is specifically pollution-based.
- clarity: The state of being clear and free from obscuring matter.
Commonly confused with
- fog: Fog is water vapor; smog is smoke plus fog.
Word family
- smoggy (adjective): Characterized by smog.
Collocations
- thick smog
- urban smog
- photochemical smog
Example sentences
- "The city was blanketed in a thick layer of smog that reduced visibility to a few hundred meters." News report on city conditions.
- "The Great Smog of 1952 in London led to the first major clean air legislation." Historical reference to London.
Memory hook
SMoke + fOG = SMOG. Dirty fog.
When not to use
Do not use for natural mist or fog that contains no pollution.
Fun facts
- There are two types: 'London smog' (sulfurous) and 'Los Angeles smog' (photochemical).
Related words
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