fumigation

American  

[fyoo-mi-gey-shuhn] / ˌfyu mɪˈgeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the process of using smoke or fumes to disinfect a place or thing or to rid it of fleas, roaches, agricultural pests, weeds, etc..

   If the entire house gets infested with bedbugs, including clothing and furniture, we’ll have to resort to exterminators or even fumigation.

   A pesticide unavailable on the legal market is regularly employed in the fumigation of areas where illicit crops, such as coca, are produced.

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Other Word Forms

• subfumigation noun

Etymology

Origin of fumigation

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin fūmigātiōn-, stem of fūmigātiō; see fumigate ( def. ), -ation ( def. )

Explanation

Fumigation is the process of using chemical smoke to kill pests like insects or rodents. An infestation of termites in your house might mean you have to resort to fumigation. Because fumigation fills the air with poison gas, it's a process that has to be done in an empty space — in other words, you'll have to leave your house and bring your cats with you during fumigation. Today this noun refers specifically to pest control and the use of pesticides in the form of gas or smoke. The original 14th-century definition was "action of making aromatic smoke as part of a ceremony," from the Latin root fumus, "smoke."

Example Sentences

The industry has been under pressure to find alternatives because sulfuryl fluoride, the chemical used in fumigation, is toxic to humans and also acts as a greenhouse gas.

From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026

Colombia will also restart fumigation to destroy coca crops, a practice halted since 2015 and strongly opposed by Petro as a senator.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

He said improved coordination between local and national governments and farmers was needed, to ensure adequate fumigation of rice fields.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2024

The chemical’s primary use is the fumigation of homes and other structures, where a building is covered with an airtight tent and gas is pumped in to kill termites and other pests.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2024

Since the children had been present at the fumigation, Úrsula figured that Fernanda had put the ring in the only place where they could not reach it: the shelf.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez