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
Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The city also must continue to explore the use of biofuels, which offer a low-cost solution for decarbonization and are being deployed to reduce emissions in buildings and vehicle fleets — including the Staten Island Ferry.
—Kris Delair, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025
Most soy grown in the US is fed to farmed animals, while another chunk is used to make subsidized biofuels.
—Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 6 Mar. 2025
Burgum, who previously served as governor of North Dakota, said his state had implemented programs that pull greenhouses gases from the waste stream at a facility that produces biofuels.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 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 30 Mar. 2025.
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