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
Robin Roenker, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
Investors focused on long-term fundamentals can recognize this period as an opportunity to secure farmland assets at attractive valuations, as the structural demand for food, biofuels and sustainable agriculture remains strong.
—Artem Milinchuk, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Some of the most polluting industries have made progress toward decarbonization by employing a range of solutions, from electrification to biofuels.
—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
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Cite this Entry
“Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofuel. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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