biodegradable

adjective

bio·​de·​grad·​able ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˈgrā-də-bəl How to pronounce biodegradable (audio)
: capable of being broken down especially into innocuous products by the action of living things (such as microorganisms)
biodegradable trash bags
biodegradable noun
plural biodegradables
"… we would never discourage the development of technologies that promote recyclables or biodegradables. [=biodegradable materials]" Ruth Lampi
biodegrade verb

Did you know?

In biodegradable, with its root grad, "to step or move", and its prefix de- "downward", we get an adjective describing things that can be broken down into basic substances through normal environmental processes. Animal and plant products are normally biodegradable, but mineral substances such as metals, glass, and plastics usually are not. Newly developed biodegradable plastics are now appearing in numerous products. However, "biodegradable" products can vary greatly in how long they take to break down. A loaf of bread may require only a couple of weeks, and a piece of paper may vanish in a couple of months, but some "biodegradable" plastic milk cartons may take four or five years.

Examples of biodegradable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This cooling globe is a great massaging tool made from high-quality glass and filled with a biodegradable gel that stays cool and adds weight to the massager. Isabella Ubaldi, Health, 20 Mar. 2024 The lamp is 3-D printed and uses a biodegradable proprietary material from Gantri made from sugarcane. Marques Harper, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Youth to the People 10% AHA + Yerba Mate Smoothing Energy Body Scrub, which combines AHAs and olive seed powder, and Sunday Riley Charcoal Smoothie, which uses salicylic acid and lactic acid plus biodegradable wax are two standouts. Hannah Baxter, Allure, 5 Mar. 2024 Then all bottles are made from recycled glass, the sealing ring from recyclable material and the shrink sleeve is biodegradable. Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 This year, Oakdale will be trying Turbo Melt, composed of magnesium chloride and a biodegradable waste product, which comes from food and beverage waste streams — these substances are byproducts of food and beverage manufacturing that would otherwise go unused. Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2024 And any leftover food scraps, of course, would have been biodegradable. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024 The simple foot warmers are made with all-natural, biodegradable ingredients and provide consistent heat for up to eight hours — a long time for any warmer, especially one that’s air-activated. Rena Behar, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2024 Second, the bill removes a loophole that allows the release of biodegradable balloons, which can still cause harm to the environment, Chaney said. Max Chesnes, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biodegradable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biodegradable was in 1959

Dictionary Entries Near biodegradable

Cite this Entry

“Biodegradable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodegradable. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

biodegradable

adjective
bio·​de·​grad·​able -di-ˈgrād-ə-bəl How to pronounce biodegradable (audio)
: capable of being broken down especially into harmless products by the action of living things (as bacteria)
biodegradability noun
biodegrade verb

Medical Definition

biodegradable

adjective
bio·​de·​grad·​able -di-ˈgrād-ə-bəl How to pronounce biodegradable (audio)
: capable of being broken down especially into innocuous products by the action of living things (as microorganisms)
biodegradability noun
plural biodegradabilities
biodegradation noun
biodegrade verb
biodegraded; biodegrading

More from Merriam-Webster on biodegradable

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