an area of the atmosphere where the ozone layer is particularly thin or absent
ozone hole in American English
noun
any part of the ozone layer that has become depleted by atmospheric pollution, resulting in excess ultraviolet radiation passing through the atmosphere
Word origin
[1985–90]This word is first recorded in the period 1985–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: DNA fingerprinting, WIMP, codependent, golden handcuffs, neural network
Examples of 'ozone hole' in a sentence
ozone hole
They discovered the ozone hole was having other profound repercussions.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
How much damage did the ozone hole ever threaten to do anyway?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This year the ozone hole appeared quite late but it has grown rapidly in recent weeks, and is already larger than last year's.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Then remember that the ozone hole appears when the sky is dark all day, and over an uninhabited continent.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You can look directly through the ozone hole and take incredible measurements over the long term.