paraquat

noun

para·​quat ˈper-ə-ˌkwät 

ˈpa-rə-

: a highly toxic contact herbicide containing a salt of a cation [C₁₂H₁₄N₂]²⁺

Examples of paraquat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Farmworkers are at particular risk, which has led the EPA to require special training for certified applicators of paraquat. — ABC News, 25 June 2026

The bill currently proposes relaxing pesticide labeling rules and the potential preemption of states suing big agrochemical companies in cases related to carcinogenic paraquat and glyphosate. — Thomas Heaton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

Several other testifiers pointed to the link that has increasingly been made between paraquat and those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. — Michael Johnson, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026

The company uses enough water for its California crops annually to rival the usage of the city of San Francisco over a decade, and is reportedly a major user of the toxic herbicide paraquat, which has been linked to Parkinson's disease and cancer. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

para- + quaternary

First Known Use

circa 1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paraquat

• aeronaut
• aforethought
• afterthought
• apricot
• argonaut
• astronaut
• camelot
• coffeepot
• concordat
• cosmonaut
• entrepot
• flowerpot

Medical Definition

paraquat

noun

para·​quat ˈpar-ə-ˌkwät 

: an herbicide containing a salt of a cation [C₁₂H₁₄N₂]²⁺ that is used especially as a weed killer and that is extremely toxic to the liver, kidneys, and lungs if ingested