polluted
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /pəˈluːtɪd/
KK: /pəˈluːtɪd/
adjective
Definition
Made dirty or contaminated, especially by harmful substances or waste.
Example
The river was polluted by industrial waste, making it unsafe for swimming.
Conversation
Have you seen how polluted the river looks now?
Yeah, it’s really sad to see it like that.
I can’t believe people still dump trash in it.
I know, we need to do something to help clean it up!
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
contaminated
tainted
foul
Antonyms
clean
pure
clear
verb
Definition
To make something dirty or harmful, especially by adding waste or chemicals.
Example
The river was polluted by industrial waste.
Tense Forms
Past: polluted
Past Participle: polluted
Conversation
I heard that the river was really polluted last summer.
Yeah, it was terrible! I couldn’t believe how bad it looked.
Hopefully, they’ve done something to clean it up since then.
Root Explanation
Polluted → It is formed from "polluere" (meaning to defile or make dirty) and the suffix "-ed" (indicating a past participle). The word "polluted" means made dirty or contaminated.
Memory Tip
Think of something that has been 'defiled' or 'made dirty' — that's what polluted means.
Visually Confused Words
unpolluted
repollute
impollute
voluted
unpollutedly