herbicide

noun

her·​bi·​cide ˈ(h)ər-bə-ˌsīd How to pronounce herbicide (audio)
Synonyms of herbicidenext
: an agent used to destroy or inhibit plant growth
herbicidal
ˌ(h)ər-bə-ˈsī-dᵊl How to pronounce herbicide (audio)
adjective
herbicidally
ˌ(h)ər-bə-ˈsī-dᵊl-ē How to pronounce herbicide (audio)
adverb

Examples of herbicide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Applying a systemic herbicide now will be more successful in killing the entire plant, above- and below-ground. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026 See & Spray uses computer vision to distinguish weeds from crops and only sprays the weeds, cutting herbicide costs in half. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 These plants were grown without herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides. — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 But as post-WWII agriculture shifted toward chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and heavy machinery, the need for kudzu decreased rapidly, and the federal government retracted its support for the crop. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for herbicide

Word History

Etymology

Latin herba + International Scientific Vocabulary -cide

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of herbicide was in 1899

Rhymes for herbicide

See All Rhymes for herbicide

Browse Nearby Words

herbicidal
herbicide
herbish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Herbicide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbicide. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

herbicide

noun
her·​bi·​cide ˈ(h)ər-bə-ˌsīd How to pronounce herbicide (audio)
: a chemical substance used to destroy or stop plant growth
herbicidal
ˌ(h)ər-bə-ˈsīd-ᵊl How to pronounce herbicide (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

herbicide

noun
her·​bi·​cide ˈ(h)ər-bə-ˌsīd How to pronounce herbicide (audio)
: an agent used to destroy or inhibit plant growth
herbicidal
ˌ(h)ər-bə-ˈsīd-ᵊl How to pronounce herbicide (audio)
adjective
herbicidally
-ᵊl-ē How to pronounce herbicide (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on herbicide

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for herbicide

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about herbicide

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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