nitrogen oxide

noun

: any of several oxides of nitrogen most of which are produced in combustion and are considered to be atmospheric pollutants: such as

Examples of nitrogen oxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Greater fuel efficiency also reduces other combustion emissions, including nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Marisa Garcia, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 The new limits target nitrogen oxide pollution, a major component of ground-level ozone, or smog, that has been found to worsen asthma, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses. Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024 Cars and trucks are significant contributors to the state’s ozone pollution, releasing tons of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides annually. Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2024 About 2,000 school buses are on the roads in Connecticut’s big cities and poor towns spewing nitrogen oxides and other toxic emissions would be eliminated if those fleets were replaced with electric buses, DEEP said. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2024 Although carbon capture equipment collects CO2, other emissions like smog-forming nitrogen oxides or particulate matter would still be released. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2024 Defeat devices on engines increase pollution of nitrogen oxides, which contributes to forming smog. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024 Fossil fuel combustion in buildings also produces more smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than power plants do in the US. Justine Calma, The Verge, 7 Feb. 2024 California air regulators acknowledge that the region still needs to reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxides by more than 100 tons per day in order to achieve the 1997 standard for ozone. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nitrogen oxide.' 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

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitrogen oxide was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near nitrogen oxide

Cite this Entry

“Nitrogen oxide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitrogen%20oxide. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nitrogen oxide

noun
: any of various oxides of nitrogen: as

More from Merriam-Webster on nitrogen oxide

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