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

Rodenticides and insecticides are extremely harmful if pets ingest them directly or eat affected pests. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

The carcinogenic insecticide did not show up in a single unregulated product. —Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

Along with turning lights off at night, these additionally include ceasing the use of pesticides, insecticides and weed killers such as Roundup on lawns. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Run in fear, stamp it underfoot, or poison and suffocate it with insecticide? —Salama Udaipurwala, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

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