pesticide

American  

[pes-tuh-sahyd] / ˈpɛs təˌsaɪd /

noun

• pesticides
  plural

1. a chemical preparation for destroying plant, fungal, or animal pests.

---

pesticide British  

/ ˈpɛstɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. a chemical used for killing pests, esp insects and rodents

---

pesticide Scientific  

/ pĕs′tĭ-sīd′ /

1. A chemical used to kill harmful animals or plants. Pesticides are used especially in agriculture and around areas where humans live. Some are harmful to humans, either from direct contact or as residue on food, or are harmful to the environment because of their high toxicity, such as DDT (which is now banned in many countries). Pesticides include fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides.

2. See more at fungicide herbicide insecticide

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pesticidal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pesticides
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of pesticide

First recorded in 1935–40; pest + -i- + -cide

---

Explanation

A pesticide is a bug-killing poison. You may have to resort to using a pesticide to battle the ants that have invaded your kitchen, even if you hate killing any creature. Pesticides are most often used to ward off insects or small animals living uninvited in a person's house, or in a garden or on a farm, when they are nibbling on plants or flowers. The Latin suffix cide means "killer," and in pesticide, it's combined with the English word pest, which means just what it sounds like — a troublesome annoyance.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pesticide pesticides

Scientists continue to trace significant amounts of this once-popular pesticide in present-day dolphins and coastal-feeding condors, and a recent study linked its presence to an aggressive cancer in California sea lions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Lopez had received pesticide safety training from the organization.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

Failure to provide pesticide safety training for workers who handle pesticides is one of the most common violations in California, according to state regulators.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

In June, the Department of Pesticide Regulation unveiled proposed changes to state pesticide regulations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

Milk is one of the few foods in which no pesticide residues are permitted by Food and Drug Administration regulations.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

In a 1963 Canadian Parliamentary committee, for example, a witness from the chemical industry prominently cited it as reason chemical pesticides were required: to feed the approaching population explosion.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

But drought, pesticides and habitat destruction triggered an unprecedented collapse that began in 2017, eventually wiping out an estimated 99.5 percent of the Bogong moth population.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Because Plant Armor physically prevents insects from feeding on the plants, Olawuyi said the technology could also reduce the amount of conventional pesticides needed in agricultural fields.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

Such training is crucial for all field workers because pesticides have different safety requirements and can pose serious health risks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

It was grown without the help of fossil fuels, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• defoliant
• fungicide
• insecticide

---