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Synonyms

herbicide

American  
[hur-buh-sahyd, ur-] / ˈhɜr bəˌsaɪd, ˈɜr- /

noun

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

herbicide British  
/ ˈhɜːbɪˌsaɪd /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
herbicide Scientific  
/ hûr′bĭ-sīd′,ûr′- /

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

  2. Compare fungicide insecticide rodenticide

Other Word Forms

  • herbicidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of herbicide

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

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.

Perhaps best known as the main ingredient in Monsanto’s RoundUp herbicide, glyphosate is one of the most commonly used methods of handling weeds on farms and elsewhere.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026

Also included in the order was the same protection to producers of glyphosate, an herbicide used in agricultural production, which relies on phosphorus as a “crucial precursor element” in its manufacturing.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

The state water board allows glyphosate, the key ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, to be used on plants in waterways.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

The German pharmaceutical and agriculture conglomerate on Tuesday said it proposed to settle a nationwide class-action lawsuit to resolve claims that its flagship herbicide causes cancer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

The herbicide 2,4-D causes a temporary interruption of nitrification.

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.