a powerful herbicide and defoliant containing trace amounts of dioxin, a toxic impurity suspected of causing serious health problems, including cancer and genetic damage, in some persons exposed to it, and birth defects in their offspring; used by US armed forces during the VietnamWar to defoliate jungles (1965 - 70). The name Agent Orange came from the color of the identifying stripe on the drums in which it was stored. See also dioxin and