Meaning
The complete destruction of an ecosystem due to human activities, such as due to exploitation of resources, nuclear warfare, or the dumping of harmful chemicals.
Etymology
Origin: Unknown
From eco- + -cide. First used in 1969 by the American plant biologist Arthur Galston to refer to the willful destruction of the environment with Agent Orange.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
geocide
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 4 recorded puzzles: