Standard Lemma guide

malathion

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: M AH0 L AE1 TH IY0 AO0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: M AH0 L AE1 TH IY0 AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An organophosphorus insecticide, Diethyl [(dimethoxyphosphinothioyl)-thio]butanedioate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • "Although effective in degrading pesticides with P-O bonds, washing of the vegetables sprayed with the thiolester organophosphate insecticide malathion with the enzyme did not yield any improved degradation."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a yellow insecticide used as a dust or spray to control garden pests and house flies and mites

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: insecticide, insect powder

History

Etymology

From malate + -thion. Coined as a trade name.