Definition

A substance used to make plants lose their leaves, often applied as a spray or dust.

Example

Farmers sometimes use a defoliant to prepare crops for harvest.

Conversation

Did you hear about the defoliant they used in the park last week?

Yeah, I read it caused a lot of trees to lose their leaves.

I wonder how that affects the local wildlife, though.

It probably does, but hopefully, they'll recover quickly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Defoliant → It is formed from "de-" (meaning down or away) and "folium" (meaning leaf). The word describes a substance that causes the leaves to fall away or be removed.

Memory Tip

Think of 'removing leaves' — 'de-' means down or away, and 'folium' means leaf. This helps you remember that a defoliant is something that takes leaves away.

Visually Confused Words