To save this word, you'll need to log in.
at·ra·zine | \ ˈa-trə-ˌzēn 
\
\Definition of atrazine
: a photosynthesis-inhibiting persistent herbicide C8H14ClN5 used especially to kill annual weeds and quack grass
Examples of atrazine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Aerial spraying can allow toxic chemicals like glyphosate, 2,4-D and atrazine to drift long distances or get into waterways that serve as drinking water sources.
—
oregonlive, "Oregon environmental groups, timber companies strike landmark compromise, signaling end to November ballot fight," 10 Feb. 2020 Those pesticides included atrazine (26%), chlorpyrifos (59%), cypermethrin (49%), diazinon (60%), and permethrin (46%).
—
Rebekah Tuchscherer, USA TODAY, "Study finds residue of pesticides, antibiotics and growth hormone in non-organic milk," 26 June 2019 Take atrazine, a weed killer that's widely used on agricultural crops (especially corn) as well as on golf courses and residential lawns and along highways.
—
Rachael Moeller Gorman, Good Housekeeping, "Is Your Tap Water Safe?," 15 Aug. 2012 As a control, one field was treated with atrazine before the corn was planted (a full control using no herbicides at all would have been destroyed by weeds without an overwhelming amount of hand weeding).
—
The Economist, "For better or worseSpraying herbicides changes the flavour and nutritional value of crops," 1 Mar. 2018 Atrazine: A herbicide, found within legal limits and above state and national averages.
—
Ian Cummings, kansascity, "How safe is KC area water? You can use this new database to check it," 4 Aug. 2017 Some chemicals of concern include estrogens from birth control pills, the plasticizer bisphenol A, and the herbicide atrazine.
—
National Geographic, "Why Are These Male Fish Growing Eggs?," 3 Feb. 2016 Chemicals such as atrazine, tetrachloroethylene, and ethylene dibromide are known to contaminate drinking water supplies.
—
Laura Grace Weldon, WIRED, "The Future Of Water Is Zuvo," 17 Jan. 2013
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'atrazine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on atrazine
What made you want to look up atrazine? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Name that Thing: Flower Edition
- Name that flower
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share atrazine
Time Traveler for atrazine
The first known use of atrazine was in 1959
See more words from the same year