smog
SMOG
/smɒɡ/
A dense atmospheric haze caused by the mixture of smoke, gases, and particulate matter with fog or daylight sunlight.
Refers specifically to outdoor atmospheric air pollution, often created by industrial fumes or vehicle exhausts interacting with solar radiation.
The story behind the word. Coined in 1905 by Dr. Henry Antoine Des Voeux in a paper presented at the Public Health Congress in London to describe the suffocating combination of coal smoke and natural fog blanketing British cities.
Word relationships
- haze: Haze can be caused by natural dust or moisture, whereas smog always implies industrial or vehicle pollution.
- miasma: Miasma is an unhealthful atmosphere or bad vapor, often used figuratively, while smog is a literal physical atmospheric condition.
- clear air: Clear air lacks visible suspended particles or chemical pollutants.
Commonly confused with
- fog: Fog is composed purely of condensed water droplets, while smog contains harmful pollutants mixed with fog or haze.
Word family
- smoggy (adjective): Characterized by or full of smog.
Collocations
- dense smog
- photochemical smog
- smog alert
Example sentences
- "The heavy smog draped over the valley city reduced visibility to less than two blocks during morning rush hour." Urban atmosphere
- "Health authorities urged vulnerable citizens to stay indoors while the thick smog persisted." Public health advisory
Memory hook
Combine SMoke + fOG to get SMOG. Smoke meets fog over the city street.
When not to use
Do not use for indoor dust or light natural mist without industrial smoke or vehicle emissions.
Fun facts
- The term was created because London's 19th-century air pollution was so distinctive that standard weather terms failed to describe it.
Related words
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