herbicide

[hur-buh-sahyd, ur-]

noun

1. a substance or preparation for killing plants, especially weeds.

herbicide

/ ˈhɜːbɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. a chemical that destroys plants, esp one used to control weeds

herbicide

1. A pesticide used to kill weeds. Paraquat is a herbicide.

2. Compare fungicide insecticide rodenticide

Other Word Forms

• herbicidal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of herbicide¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; herb + -i- + -cide

Example Sentences

"Pesticides and herbicides are designed to alter biological systems," said Eugene Lengerich, emeritus professor of public health sciences at Penn State and senior author on the paper.

Read more on Science Daily

He could have been a better player but he played with "fear", a herbicide that stops athletes growing.

Read more on BBC

Paraquat is a herbicide commonly used on farms and in yards for weed control.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015, he suspects, because of his exposure to Agent Orange, a herbicide used by the U.S. military to reduce enemy cover in the Vietnamese jungle.

Read more on Salon

Vigilance and quick action are especially important here because Bifano only uses organic control methods, so no chemical pesticides or herbicides.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• defoliant 
• fungicide 
• insecticide 
• pesticide