Picric acid is used as explosive material in destructive weapons and nuclear technology. Due to higher solubility in water it can create health issues and its monitoring is crucial for safer environment and health.

We report a novel, simple, efficient, and green protocol for biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in aqueous solution using clove (Syzygium aromaticum) extract as a reducing and protecting agent. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was employed to monitor the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band of clove extract-derived AgNPs prepared under various conditions. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis provided information about the surface interaction of the clove extract with the AgNPs. Ultrahigh-resolution transmission electron microscopy (UHRTEM) results confirmed the formation of spherical, uniformly distributed clove extract-capped AgNPs with sizes in the range of 2–20 nm (average size: 14.4 ± 2 nm). Powder X-ray diffractometry analysis (PXRD) illustrated the formation of pure crystalline AgNPs. These AgNPs were tested as a colorimetric sensor to detect trace amounts of vinclozolin (VIN) by UV-Vis spectroscopy for the first time. The AgNP-based sensor demonstrated very sensitive and selective colorimetric detection of VIN, in the range of 2–16 µM (R2 = 0.997). The developed sensor was green, simple, sensitive, selective, economical, and novel, and could detect trace amounts of VIN with limit of detection (LOD) = 21 nM. Importantly, the sensor was successfully employed for the determination of VIN in real water samples collected from various areas in Turkey.