allelopathy

noun

al·le·lop·a·thy ə-ˈlē-lə-ˌpa-thē

-ˈle-lə-;

also

ˌa-lə-ˈlä-pə-thē

: the suppression of growth of one plant species by another due to the release of toxic substances

allelopathic

ə-ˌlē-lə-ˈpa-thik

-ˌle-lə-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Allelopathie, from allelo- allelo- + -pathie -pathy

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of allelopathy was in 1938

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

allelomorph

allelopathy

alleluia

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Allelopathy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allelopathy. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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