TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
SUBSTANCE POLLUANTE [2 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2016-12-21
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Pollutants
- Air Pollution
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- pollutant
1, record 1, English, pollutant
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
... any thing, living or not living, or any physical agent (e.g., heat, sound) that in its excess makes any part of the environment undesirable; if water, undesirable for drinking, recreation, visual enjoyment, or as a habitat for the aquatic life normal to it; if air, undesirable for breathing, for the condition of buildings and monuments exposed to it, or for animal and plant life; if soil and land, undesirable for raising food and fiber, animals, or for recreation or aesthetic enjoyment. 2, record 1, English, - pollutant
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
In common usage, "pollutant" is a term applied usually to non living, man-made substances or other nuisances, and it refers to their being in excess in a particular location. Often the same substances are produced by natural causes ... but [generally], however, ... they are not by themselves principal threats .... 2, record 1, English, - pollutant
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Agents de pollution
- Pollution de l'air
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- polluant
1, record 1, French, polluant
correct, masculine noun, standardized
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- matière polluante 2, record 1, French, mati%C3%A8re%20polluante
correct, feminine noun
- agent de pollution 3, record 1, French, agent%20de%20pollution
correct, masculine noun
- agent polluant 2, record 1, French, agent%20polluant
correct, masculine noun
- substance polluante 2, record 1, French, substance%20polluante
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[...] substance naturelle ou d'origine strictement anthropogénique que l'homme introduit dans un biotope donné dont elle était absente ou encore dont il modifie et augmente la teneur (dans l'eau, l'air ou les sols selon le biotope) lorsqu'elle y était spontanément présente. 4, record 1, French, - polluant
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
polluant : terme normalisé par l'AFNOR. 5, record 1, French, - polluant
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
matière polluante; agent polluant; substance polluante : termes extraits du «Glossaire de l’environnement» et reproduits avec l’autorisation de l’Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques. 5, record 1, French, - polluant
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Agentes contaminantes
- Contaminación del aire
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- contaminante
1, record 1, Spanish, contaminante
correct, see observation, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
- polutante 2, record 1, Spanish, polutante
correct, see observation, masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Sustancia ajena a un equilibrio ambiental, que se presenta en el medio como un agente perturbador. 3, record 1, Spanish, - contaminante
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Algunos autores distinguen entre contaminante y polutante. Consideran un contaminante como una sustancia que resulta de la actividad humana sin tener necesariamente efectos biológicos mientras que el polutante tiene origen en la actividad humana y produce efectos nocivos. 4, record 1, Spanish, - contaminante
Record 2 - internal organization data 1996-02-07
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Environmental Law
- Federal Laws and Legal Documents
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- polluting substance
1, record 2, English, polluting%20substance
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A substance that, if added to a water body, is likely to degrade or alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the physical, chemical or biological conditions of the water body to an extent that is detrimental to its use by human beings, animals, fish or plants. 1, record 2, English, - polluting%20substance
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Droit environnemental
- Lois et documents juridiques fédéraux
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- substance polluante
1, record 2, French, substance%20polluante
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Toute substance qui, ajoutée à un plan d'eau, est susceptible d'en dégrader ou d'en altérer l'état physique, chimique ou biologique ou de contribuer au processus de dégradation ou d'altération de cet état, au point de nuire à son utilisation par les êtres humains, les animaux, les poissons ou les végétaux. 1, record 2, French, - substance%20polluante
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Terme français et équivalent sont utilisés dans la Loi canadienne sur l'évaluation environnementale (1992) ou dans les règlements connexes de cette loi. 2, record 2, French, - substance%20polluante
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: