insecticide

noun

in·​sec·​ti·​cide in-ˈsek-tə-ˌsīd 

plural insecticides

: an agent that destroys one or more species of insects

broadly : an agent that destroys insects as well as other small pests (such as mites or nematodes)

Aphids, mealybugs, and cyclamen mites are all common problems and can be controlled with any low-toxicity insecticide sold specifically for houseplants.

—Horticulture

Examples of insecticide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But there are more than three hundred and sixty species of caterpillar that live on oak trees in Germany, and these insecticides can kill many of them too. — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026

Last month, Alameda County stepped up mosquito abatement by spraying insecticide in Newark after five birds tested positive for West Nile virus there. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 29 July 2026

Standard eradication methods — such as passive traps, genetic modification, species sterilization, and chemical insecticides — all carry limitations, environmental risks, or health hazards for humans and pets. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

Check the package directions for how to use each insecticide correctly. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for insecticide

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide

Kids Definition

insecticide

noun

in·​sec·​ti·​cide in-ˈsek-tə-ˌsīd 

: a chemical used to kill insects

insecticidal

(ˌ)in-ˌsek-tə-ˈsīd-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

insecticide

noun

in·​sec·​ti·​cide in-ˈsek-tə-ˌsīd 

: an agent that destroys insects

insecticidal

(ˌ)in-ˌsek-tə-ˈsīd-ᵊl 

adjective