1. a chemical substance used to remove leaves from plants or trees
Usage: often used in military or agricultural contexts

Examples

• The military used defoliant to clear vegetation from the jungle.
• Agent Orange was a powerful defoliant used during the Vietnam War.
• Farmers sometimes apply defoliant to cotton plants before harvest.
• The defoliant caused widespread environmental damage.
• Scientists studied the long-term effects of the defoliant on forest ecosystems.
• The aircraft sprayed defoliant over the enemy’s hiding places.