ozone layer

noun

: an atmospheric layer at heights of about 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 kilometers) that is normally characterized by high ozone content which blocks most solar ultraviolet radiation from entry into the lower atmosphere

Examples of ozone layer 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.
An air quality alert is in effect, not for smoke, but for the ozone layer. — Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 In a blog post on Wednesday, Gates called for a new international organization to manage AI, drawing on elements from a nuclear inspections regime, international aviation regulations and ozone layer protection agreements. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026 These agencies could be modeled on certain existing systems, such as the global inspections regime for nuclear weapons, regulations for international aviation and agreements that protect the ozone layer. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 The destruction of the ozone layer would allow hazardous ultraviolet radiation to rain down on the planet, adding to the series of climate cataclysms that would threaten civilization and most life on Earth. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ozone layer

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ozone layer was in 1927

Rhymes for ozone layer

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Browse Nearby Words

ozone hole
ozone layer
ozoner
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Cite this Entry

“Ozone layer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ozone%20layer. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ozone layer

noun
: a layer of the earth's atmosphere at heights of about 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 kilometers) that is normally characterized by high ozone content which blocks most of the sun's ultraviolet radiation from entry into the lower atmosphere

More from Merriam-Webster on ozone layer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ozone layer

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