How is a pesticide defined?

A pesticide is defined as anything intended to control or manage a pest, which encompasses a wide variety of substances used for this purpose. This definition is broad and includes materials that target insects, weeds, fungi, and various other organisms that are considered pests in agriculture, horticulture, or within household environments. The focus of this definition emphasizes the primary function of pesticides, which is to mitigate or eliminate unwanted organisms that can harm crops, structures, or health.

This broad definition allows for various forms of pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides, to be classified within this category. It highlights the importance of pesticides in agricultural practices and pest management strategies, ensuring that all products designed to address pest issues are recognized under the definition.

The other options do not accurately capture the comprehensive nature of pesticides. For example, stating that a pesticide is anything that repels an organism is too vague, as it does not encompass substances that may kill or inhibit the growth of pests. Defining pesticides exclusively for plants overlooks the usefulness of pesticides in controlling pests in other contexts, such as in homes or on animals. Lastly, claiming that a pesticide is only a chemical that harms animals restricts the definition to a narrow category and ignores the broader application