Definition

Having the ability to kill or deactivate viruses.

Example

The hospital uses virucidal disinfectants to ensure a safe environment for patients.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new virucidal spray they released?

Yeah, I read that it can kill 99.9% of viruses on surfaces.

That's impressive! I wonder if it works on all types of viruses.

It should, but I guess it's always good to check the label first.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Virucidal is formed from "virus" (from Latin *virus*, meaning poison or venom) and "-cidal" (from Latin *caedere*, meaning to kill). The word virucidal refers to the ability to kill viruses.

Memory Tip

Think of 'virus' as something harmful and '-cidal' meaning to kill — that's why virucidal means capable of killing viruses.

Visually Confused Words