ScienceJuly 7, 2026
polluter
/pəˈluːtər/
Definition
An entity, such as a corporation, whose industrial activities contribute significantly to environmental contamination and climate change.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'polluere,' meaning to defile or contaminate, combined with the agent suffix '-er.' It entered Middle English to describe someone or something that makes an environment impure or hazardous.
In the news
The term appears in the context of funding advocacy groups that work to hold corporate polluters accountable for their environmental impact. It highlights the focus on systemic solutions to climate change beyond just government data.
The plan to make climate science harder to erase
Read the full article ↗Grist