biofuel
noun
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Since the early 19th century, "fossil fuel" has been used to refer to fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas which are formed from the remains of plants and animals which have lain in the earth for millions of years. In the 1970s, a new word, "biofuel," began to be used to describe a different kind of fuel, one taken from more contemporary organic matter. These fuels include ethanol, which can be derived from such products as corn and sugarcane, and biodiesel, which can be formed from vegetable oils. These organic sources are reflected in the prefix, bio-, meaning "life" or "living organisms or tissue." The prefix bio- was borrowed from the Greek bios, meaning "mode of life."
Examples of biofuel in a Sentence
Whitaker Irvin Jr., Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
The bill also states that any new natural gas plant would have to be able to convert to hydrogen or zero-emissions biofuel and use carbon capture in the future.
—Rachel McCrea, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will proceed with Biden-era plans to allow the year-round sale of higher-ethanol E15 fuel, a longtime ask of midwestern lawmakers and the biofuels industry.
—Zack Budryk, The Hill, 24 Feb. 2025
And in order to reduce food waste, the resort also donates hundreds of pounds of food to a local pig farm, and turns hundreds of gallons of cooking oil into biofuel, on a weekly basis.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biofuel
Cite this Entry
“Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofuel. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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