A polluter is the person, company, or even country that puts dangerous dirt into the air, water, or ground. A factory that dumps waste, a power plant that fills the sky with smoke, a person who pours oil down a drain — they are polluters. News and law like this word because it points a finger: not “there is a mess,” but “someone made the mess.” “The polluter pays” is a well-known idea, meaning the one who caused the harm should pay to clean it up. It sounds accusing, so people use it in arguments, headlines, and court, not as a polite label. Though actually, one factory can be both a polluter and a workplace, which is why the word often shows up in fights about jobs and the environment at the same time.

污染者