herbicide
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of herbicide
Explanation
A chemical that's used on lawns or gardens to kill weeds is an herbicide. When herbicides are used on food crops, they target unwanted plants but leave the crops unharmed. Some towns and cities have banned certain herbicides, fearing that they're not safe for humans, pets, and other animals. In many instances, herbicides are seen as a necessity for growing large crops or controlling invasive weeds that threaten structures as well as lawns and gardens. The word herbicide comes from the Latin roots herba, "grass, turf, or vegetation," and the suffix -cide, "killer."
Vocabulary lists containing herbicide
Biodiversity and Humans - Middle School and High School
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Biodiversity and Humans - Introductory
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Agriculture
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
An additional 15 strains came from feedlots and agricultural soils affected by herbicide use.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
Bayer earlier this year proposed a $7.25 billion settlement to resolve claims that its flagship herbicide causes cancer, which the company denies, and is simultaneously pursuing a case before the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
One of its new products is a camera that can distinguish between a plant and a weed, reducing herbicide use and saving farmers money.
From Barron's ● May 6, 2026
Then came the 1970s, and a new technology arrived: the herbicide glyphosate, created by Monsanto.
From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026
He had been ordered out many times on “search and destroy” missions after planes had sprayed the herbicide Agent Orange to kill any vegetation in their path.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
They also tested resistance to pure glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides, which are among the most widely used weedkillers worldwide.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
The temporary pause on spraying herbicides started April 30, she said in a written statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026
Farmer Dave Bell, chair of the Voluntary Initiative for the use of Plant Protection, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he relies on herbicides like glyphosate.
From BBC ● May 6, 2026
Corteva sells seeds under brands like Pioneer and crop-protection chemicals such as herbicides and insecticides.
From Barron's ● May 1, 2026
Apart from any directly toxic effects, curious indirect results follow the use of certain herbicides.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
