postemergence

[ pohst-i-mur-juhns ]

adjective

1. occurring or applied after emergence of a plant from the soil and before full growth:

   postemergence frost.

Word History and Origins

Origin of postemergence¹

First recorded in 1935–40; post- + emergence

Example Sentences

Heavy reliance on postemergence herbicides has resulted in a weed shift.

From Time Magazine Archive