acid rain

noun

: rain that has increased acidity caused by environmental factors (such as atmospheric pollutants)

Examples of acid rain in a Sentence

trees damaged by acid rain
Recent Examples on the Web Mercury and acid Fox and colleagues proposed that acid rain from volcanic gases may have contributed to the tree loss. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 8 Feb. 2023 So if insects, mercury, acid rain and fog, ozone damage, and even wildfires were not enough, what destroyed the terrestrial ecosystem? Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 8 Feb. 2023 Climate change holds the environment down while it is kicked by other stressors like acid rain, mercury, or even plagues of insects until ecosystems break. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 8 Feb. 2023 The asteroid impact also sparked wildfires, tsunamis and acid rain. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2023 The ozone hole and acid rain were not fixed with the first international agreements on the table. Hannah Ritchie, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023 Combustion of high-sulfur fuels leads to the production of compounds like sulfur dioxide, which can cause respiratory problems and produce acid rain. Robert Rapier, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 The volcanism would have also spawned acid rain and ocean acidification. WIRED, 28 Sep. 2023 The cost-benefit ratio of desulfurization technologies was key to solving acid rain. Hannah Ritchie, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acid rain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acid rain was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near acid rain

Cite this Entry

“Acid rain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acid%20rain. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

acid rain

noun
: rain with increased acidity that is caused by environmental factors (as atmospheric pollutants)

Medical Definition

acid rain

noun
: acid precipitation especially in the form of rain

More from Merriam-Webster on acid rain

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