pesticide

noun

pes·​ti·​cide ˈpe-stə-ˌsīd 

: an agent used to destroy pests

pesticidal

ˌpe-stə-ˈsī-dᵊl 

adjective

Examples of pesticide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To attract them to your garden, Biggs recommends avoiding pesticides and building fishless ponds and sunny areas with perches. — Olga R. Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

The same four firms now sell both the seeds farmers plant and the pesticides those seeds are bred to work with. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Some areas and cities, including New York, spray pesticides to try to prevent the spread of the virus. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2026

Previously, the state Department of Agriculture interpreted that to mean that outdoor growing was prohibited, citing concerns over security and agricultural pesticides drifting into marijuana crops. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pesticide

• anti-pesticide

Rhymes for pesticide

• actinide
• aldehyde
• alkoxide
• alongside
• amplified
• arsenide
• beautified
• biocide
• bisulphide
• butoxide
• calcified
• ceramide

Kids Definition

pesticide

noun

pes·​ti·​cide ˈpes-tə-ˌsīd 

: a substance used to destroy pests

pesticidal

ˌpes-tə-ˈsīd-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

pesticide

noun

pes·​ti·​cide ˈpes-tə-ˌsīd 

: an agent used to destroy pests