The present study deals with the pharmacognostic characterisation, physicochemical evaluation, preliminary phytochemical screening and antifungal activity of the whole plant of Euphorbia hirta Linn (family Euphorbiaceae). The plant material was extracted with methanol by continuous Soxhlet extraction and with water by maceration, giving yields of 31.43% and 15.20% respectively. Physicochemical parameters, namely moisture content (4.5%), total ash (10.5%), acid insoluble ash (2.5%), acid soluble ash (1.8%) and extractive values, were determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening of both extracts showed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids, phenolic compounds and tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and volatile oil. Antifungal activity was evaluated against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger by the agar cup plate diffusion method, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The methanolic extract at 50 and 100 mg/ml showed significant antifungal activity, whereas the aqueous extract showed moderate to mild activity. The MIC of both extracts against both fungi was 1000 µg/ml. The findings indicate that the whole plant of E. hirta is a promising source of antifungal agents.