Smog is a polluteddirty or contaminated with harmful substances haze in the air, usually caused by a mix of smoke, exhaustgases released from vehicles or engines, and fog. It reduces visibilityhow far you can see clearly and can make the air unhealthy to breathe.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /smɑɡ/
Easy pronunciation: SMOG (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; the whole word is stressed.
Used as a noun meaning dirty air made from smoke and fog.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Smog Meaning
dirty air that looks hazy because of smoke, exhaust, and fog
Part of speech: noun
Definition: air pollution made up of smoke and fog
Example: The city was covered in thick smog all morning.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- smogginess — Related noun meaning the condition of being smoggy, but it is not a direct everyday synonym for the pollutant itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing smog with fog: fog is natural moisture in the air, while smog is polluted haze.
- Using smog as a countable noun in normal usage; it is usually uncountable or used as a mass noun.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does smog mean?
Smog means polluted air that looks like a haze, usually caused by smoke, exhaust, and fog.
Is smog the same as fog?
No. Fog is made of tiny water droplets, while smog is polluted air mixed with smoke or exhaust.
What are good synonyms for smog?
There are very few exact synonyms. In context, people may say polluted air, haze, or smoggy air, but these are not perfect one-word replacements.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
