temperature inversion

noun

: inversion sense 5

Examples of temperature inversion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Due to a strong temperature inversion in the morning, the level of fine particulate matter in the air will be in the code orange range. — Patrick Damp, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026 But if there is a layer of warm air between higher levels of the atmosphere and the surface (what is called a temperature inversion), that snow melts into rain. — Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 26 Jan. 2026 Winter weather patterns, like temperature inversions, trap pollution close to the ground. — Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 16 Dec. 2025 Hazardous air gets trapped near the ground due to a phenomenon called temperature inversion, where a layer of cold, dense air acts like a lid and prevents pollution from rising. — Esha Mitra, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for temperature inversion

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of temperature inversion was in 1921

Rhymes for temperature inversion

See All Rhymes for temperature inversion

Browse Nearby Words

temperature gradient
temperature inversion
temperature scale
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Temperature inversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temperature%20inversion. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

temperature inversion

noun
: inversion sense 3

More from Merriam-Webster on temperature inversion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about temperature inversion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All