dioxin

noun

di·​ox·​in (ˌ)dī-ˈäk-sən 

: any of several persistent toxic heterocyclic hydrocarbons that occur especially as by-products of various industrial processes (such as pesticide manufacture and papermaking) and waste incineration

especially : tcdd

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Which suggested to our scientists that there was not a further risk of dioxin exposure. —Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 1 Mar. 2023

This found that most of the dioxin in the environment had long since dissipated. —George Black, The New Republic, 19 Dec. 2022

Studies show that the dioxin does not degrade easily. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 25 May 2022

Available in three handy sizes, the vegan mat is free of dioxin, bleach, formaldehyde, pesticides, and chemicals like PFAS, which linger in the environment. —Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 25 Jan. 2023

The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry conducted blood tests in 2006 that revealed residents’ blood dioxin levels were three times the national average. —Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2015

Dow once enlisted Kligman to study the effects of dioxin, a chemical in Agent Orange, on 75 inmates at Pennsylvania's Holmesburg Prison. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 11 Jan. 2021

Scientists have found high levels of dioxin in fish raised in ponds formed in old bomb craters like this one in the A Luoi Valley. —George Black, The New Republic, 19 Dec. 2022

The city said the experiments exposed inmates to pharmaceuticals, viruses, fungus, asbestos and dioxin, a component of Agent Orange. —Joseph De Avila, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

circa 1919, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

dioxin

noun

di·​ox·​in (ˈ)dī-ˈäk-sən 

: any of several persistent toxic heterocyclic hydrocarbons that occur especially as by-products of various industrial processes (as pesticide manufacture and paper milling) and waste incineration

especially : tcdd see agent orange