<p>Chlorophenols (CPs) are toxic organic pollutants introduced into the environment through human activities, including extensive pesticide use and industrial effluents. The presence of CPs in water sources significantly threatens both human health and the surrounding ecosystem. Therefore, it is essential to remove CPs from water in an effective and efficient manner. This review summarizes the degradation of different groups of CPs by UV/H₂O₂ and UV/O₃ processes. These processes effectively oxidize CPs by generating highly reactive radical species, which degrade CPs rapidly and efficiently (up to 95–100%). In both processes, hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) serve as the principal and most potent oxidants, while secondary radicals such as superoxide radical anions (O₂^•⁻) and hydroperoxyl radicals (HO^•₂) may also be generated in the UV/O₃ system. The degradation of CP is affected by numerous operational factors, such as initial pollutant concentration, UV intensity, H₂O₂ concentration, ozone dose, pH, and reaction time; this review highlights the importance of optimizing these parameters for efficient removal and comprehension of degradation mechanisms. The findings of this study demonstrated the potential of both UV/H₂O₂ and UV/O₃ processes as promising approaches for degrading CPs in water, offering solutions for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>