biocide

American  

[bahy-uh-sahyd] / ˈbaɪ əˌsaɪd /

noun

1. any chemical that destroys life by poisoning, especially a pesticide, herbicide, or fungicide.

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biocide British  

/ ˈbaɪəˌsaɪd /

noun

1. a chemical, such as a pesticide, capable of killing living organisms

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biocide Scientific  

/ bī′ə-sīd′ /

1. A chemical agent, such as a pesticide or herbicide, that is capable of destroying living organisms.

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Other Word Forms

• biocidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of biocide

First recorded in 1945–50; bio- + -cide

Example Sentences

No one is planning to inflict massive biocide like Thanos in the Marvel Avengers films.

From Scientific American • Jan. 13, 2023

The biocide paint tributyltin, known as TBT, protected Shell tankers from accruing algae, barnacles and mussels, but it also caused female murex mollusks to change their gender, impairing their ability to spawn.

From Washington Post • Jul. 28, 2021

They manage to evade our assaults, and evolve their way out of just about every biocide we throw at them.

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2018

The biocide is sold over-the-counter to disinfect small areas of skin before surgery.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2017

Mr Lee says the government’s recent promise to catalogue the level of toxicity of every household biocide is impractical.

From Economist • Jun. 9, 2016