defoliant
noun
de·fo·li·ant
(ˌ)dē-ˈfō-lē-ənt 
: a chemical spray or dust applied to plants in order to cause the leaves to drop off prematurely
Examples of defoliant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
ProPublica filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on my behalf in 2016 seeking records related to the agency’s handling of Agent Orange, a defoliant used during the Vietnam War.
—
Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, 30 Apr. 2026
It was used as a defoliant in Vietnam.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
Observances included an opening ceremony on Oct. 2 and a special ceremony recognizing those impacted by Agent Orange, a highly toxic defoliant used during the Vietnam War.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
It was believed this was a result of exposure to Agent Orange, the chemical defoliant used in the Vietnamese jungles.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
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Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, 30 Apr. 2026
It was used as a defoliant in Vietnam.
—Angus Chen, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
Observances included an opening ceremony on Oct. 2 and a special ceremony recognizing those impacted by Agent Orange, a highly toxic defoliant used during the Vietnam War.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
It was believed this was a result of exposure to Agent Orange, the chemical defoliant used in the Vietnamese jungles.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for defoliant
Cite this Entry
“Defoliant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defoliant. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defoliant
noun
de·fo·li·ant
(ˈ)dē-ˈfō-lē-ənt
: a chemical that is applied to plants and causes their leaves to drop off
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