climate change
noun
: significant and long-lasting change in the Earth's climate and weather patterns
The half-tonne … turtles were thought to have died out 30,000 to 40,000 years ago because of climate change.—
New Scientist
New Scientist
especially, in current use
: such change associated with global warming
Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change are renewed among scientists and the public with every new report about the possibility of melting icecaps and rising temperatures. —Randy Showstack
Randy Showstack Drought is a paleontological fact in the American West, but the latest desiccations have a new signature, and my region's climatologists, hydrologists, foresters, and water managers are nearly unanimous in their conviction that what we are seeing now is climate change, the anthropogenic kind, a consequence of too much CO2 and other greenhouse gases. —Kenneth Brower
Kenneth Brower Examples of climate change in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate change and the environment for USA TODAY.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 June 2025
In recognition of his work to use the power of soccer to raise awareness about climate change and specifically land degradation, drought, and desertification, in late May, Troost-Ekong was named the Sport4Land Champion of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
The back-to-back hurricanes that struck Fulford’s farm last fall happen in West Florida an average of once every decade, but could occur as frequently as every one to two years by 2100 because of climate change, according to Princeton researchers.
—Rose Schnabel, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025
The organization’s programs focus on emergency response and preparedness, addressing climate change and health access.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
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Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 June 2025
In recognition of his work to use the power of soccer to raise awareness about climate change and specifically land degradation, drought, and desertification, in late May, Troost-Ekong was named the Sport4Land Champion of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
—Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
The back-to-back hurricanes that struck Fulford’s farm last fall happen in West Florida an average of once every decade, but could occur as frequently as every one to two years by 2100 because of climate change, according to Princeton researchers.
—Rose Schnabel, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025
The organization’s programs focus on emergency response and preparedness, addressing climate change and health access.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for climate change
Cite this Entry
“Climate change.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/climate%20change. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
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