biocide
|bi-o-cide|
🇺🇸
/ˈbaɪ.oʊ.saɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˈbaɪ.ə.saɪd/
kills life
Etymology
'biocide' originates from combining the Greek prefix 'bio-' (Greek 'bios') meaning 'life' and the suffix '-cide' (from Latin 'caedere') meaning 'to kill.'
'biocide' is a modern formation (Neo-Latin/English) created by combining 'bio-' + '-cide' and entered English usage in the late 19th to early 20th century to name agents that kill living organisms.
Initially it referred broadly to any agent that kills life; over time it has come to be used specifically for chemical or biological agents used to control harmful organisms and is used in scientific and regulatory contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chemical substance or agent that kills living organisms, especially harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or algae; used to control or prevent biological growth.
The company added a biocide to the cooling system to prevent microbial growth.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/05 16:21