Dirty air made by a mixture of smoke, gases, and fog, usually found in cities with a lot of pollution. Smog can be harmful to people’s health.
“Smog” is a blend of the words “smoke” and “fog,” first used in the early 20th century. It was coined to describe the thick, dirty air over industrial cities. The new word captured both the look of fog and the source in smoke.
“Smog” is a modern, made‑up word that stuck because it perfectly fits what it names. It’s a reminder that language can invent new tools fast when the environment changes. Sadly, we needed a word for the pollution before we got serious about fixing it.
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