Definition

Harmful or toxic to plants, causing damage or death to them.

Example

The chemical was found to be phytotoxic, leading to the wilting of the crops.

Conversation

Have you heard about that new pesticide they're using?

Yeah, I read that it's supposed to be effective, but it can be phytotoxic to some plants.

That's kind of concerning, especially for gardens with sensitive species.

Totally! We should be careful about what we use around our plants.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Phytotoxic → It is formed from "phyto-" (from Greek "phyton", meaning plant) and "toxic" (from Latin "toxicum", meaning poison). The word "phytotoxic" refers to substances that are poisonous to plants.

Memory Tip

Think of 'phyto-' meaning plant and 'toxic' meaning poison — that's why phytotoxic refers to something that is poisonous to plants.

Visually Confused Words