malathion

M3A1L1A1T1H4I1O1N1

noun

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

“"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."”

UncommonScrabble 14

Meanings

nounmalathion (countable and uncountable, plural malathions)

plural malathions

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

    "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."

    1 more example

    Ecoparasite control, with appropriate concentrations of carbaryl, malathion, or pyrethrin dusts, is permissible if the agent is applied externally to both test and control animals not less than seven days prior to the start of the test.

    1983, D. E. Kaukeinen, Vertebrate Pest Control and Management Materials, page 102

    Synonyms: carbophos, maldison, mercaptothion

Synonyms & antonyms

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

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

malathion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malathion

MLA

“malathion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malathion. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “malathion,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malathion.

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