Antismog

/ˌæntiˈsmɔɡ/ adjective

Definition

Designed to prevent, reduce, or fight against smog (a type of air pollution).

Etymology

Formed from the prefix 'anti-' (against) combined with 'smog,' which itself is a portmanteau of 'smoke' and 'fog' coined in the 1950s during London's pollution crisis. The word became common during the environmental movement of the 1960s-70s.

Kelly Says

The term 'antismog' exploded in popularity right after the Great Smog of London in 1952 killed thousands of people—it literally changed how cities think about air quality. This word is a perfect example of how crises create new vocabulary to solve new problems.

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