# dioxin

> English word · Noun · IPA /daɪˈɒksɪn/ · frequency rank #66,615

## Definitions
1. The unsaturated six-membered heterocycle having four carbon atoms, two oxygen atoms, and two double bonds (molecular formula C₄H₄O₂); 1,2-dioxin and 1,4-dioxin.
2. The parent compound dibenzo-1,4-dioxin or dibenzo-p-dioxin (molecular formula C₁₂H₈O₂), in which two benzene rings are connected through two oxygen atoms; dibenzodioxin, oxanthrene.
3. Any of a broad range of toxic or carcinogenic halogenated polycyclic compounds that occur as byproducts of herbicides.
4. Any of a broad range of toxic or carcinogenic halogenated polycyclic compounds that occur as byproducts of herbicides.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *dwóh₁
From di- (prefix meaning ‘double; two’) + ox(ygen) + -in (suffix indicating a neutral chemical compound), a reference to the fact that the compound has two oxygen atoms.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dioxin