Defoliant (noun)

A chemical or substance used to cause the leaves of plants to fall off, typically used in agriculture to destroy unwanted plants or to promote the growth of certain crops.

Origin:

The word "defoliant" is formed from the prefix "de-" which means to undo or reverse, and the word "foliant" which refers to a leaf. together the word means a chemical or substance that causes leaves to fall off or lose their leaves.

Examples:

1. The farmer sprayed the fields with a defoliant to kill the weeds.
2. The use of defoliants during the war resulted in widespread environmental damage.
3. The defoliant caused the trees to lose their leaves prematurely.
4. The use of defoliants is banned in many countries due to the negative impact on the environment.
5. The defoliant was used to clear the land for farming.