dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

US/ˌdaɪˌklɔɹoʊˌdaɪˌfɛnəlˌtɹaɪˌklɔɹoʊˈɛθeɪn/

noun

A long-lasting synthetic insecticide formerly used to kill mosquitoes and crop pests. It became controversial because it persists in the environment and harms wildlife by building up in food chains.

Similar
DDT
Scrabble 54
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Meanings

noundichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (uncountable, abbreviation DDT)

abbreviation DDT

  1. uncountablechemistryA long-lasting synthetic insecticide formerly used to kill mosquitoes and crop pests. It became controversial because it persists in the environment and harms wildlife by building up in food chains.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan insecticide that is also toxic to animals and humans; banned in the United States since 1972

Similar
DDT
Broader
insecticideinsect powderpollutant
Also see
chlorophenothaneddtdicophane

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From dichloro + diphenyl + trichloro + ethane

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 滴滴涕, 二氯二苯基三氯乙烷
  • 滴滴涕 (dīdītì)chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
  • 二氯二苯基三氯乙烷 (èrlǜèrběnjīsānlǜyǐwán)chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
Finnish diklooridifenyylitrikloorietaani
  • diklooridifenyylitrikloorietaanichlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
French dichlorodiphényltrichloroéthane
  • dichlorodiphényltrichloroéthanechlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
German Dichlordiphenyltrichlorethan, DDT
  • Dichlordiphenyltrichlorethanchlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
  • DDTchlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
Hungarian diklór-difenil-triklóretán, DDT
  • diklór-difenil-triklóretánchlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
  • DDTchlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
Portuguese diclorodifeniltricloroetano
  • diclorodifeniltricloroetanochlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
Swedish diklorodifenyltrikloroetan
  • diklorodifenyltrikloroetanchlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
Thai ดีดีที, ไดคลอโรไดฟีนิลไตรคลอโรอีเทน
  • ดีดีที (dii-dii-tii)chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
  • ไดคลอโรไดฟีนิลไตรคลอโรอีเทน (dai-klɔɔ-roo-dai-fii-nil-dtrai-klɔɔ-roo-ii-teen)chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide DDT
Cite this entry
APA

dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

MLA

“dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.

Source: dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.