What does weedicide mean?
A weedicide is a substance used to destroy weeds, or unwanted plants growing where they are not wanted. It belongs to the broader category of herbicides, chemical agents designed to suppress or kill unwanted vegetation. Weedicides are used in agriculture, horticulture, landscaping, and the maintenance of paths, lawns, railways, and other managed areas. Their effects vary according to the active ingredient, the plants targeted, and environmental conditions; selective weedicides are formulated to kill particular types of plants while leaving others comparatively unharmed. In general writing, “herbicide” is often the more familiar term, while “weedicide” gives particular emphasis to the purpose of destroying weeds. The word is also commonly used attributively, as in “weedicide spray” and “weedicide application.” Because weed-killing chemicals can affect soil, water, wildlife, and desirable vegetation when misused, their use may be governed by agricultural regulations and recommended application practices.
nounA chemical substance or preparation used to destroy unwanted plants, especially weeds; a herbicide.
- A chemical substance or preparation used to destroy weeds.
"The gardener applied a selective weedicide to protect the flowers from invasive grasses."
"Heavy rain reduced the effectiveness of the weedicide."
"The agricultural manual recommends testing the weedicide on a small area before widespread use."
The plural is used for individual weed-killing products or agents.
"Several weedicides are approved for use on the farm."
Weedicide ends in -cide, a killing suffix derived from Latin caedere, “to kill”—the same root found in herbicide.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of weedicide
Weedicide is an English compound formed from “weed” and the combining form “-cide.” The suffix comes through Latin -cīda from caedere, meaning “to kill” or “cut down,” and became widely used in English compounds naming substances that kill particular organisms. “Weed” itself descends from Old English wēod, meaning “plant” or “herb,” so the compound literally denotes a weed-killing agent.
Related word forms
How weedicide is actually used
Usually formal or technical, and less frequent in general prose than “herbicide.” It may refer to an individual product or, collectively, to weed-killing chemicals.