alternative energy

noun

variants or less commonly alternative power
: usable power (such as heat or electricity) that comes from a renewable or green resource
alternative energy sources/technology

Examples of alternative energy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Should this occur, oil prices could surge, and when energy prices soar, alternative energy sources like nuclear become significantly more appealing to investors and policymakers. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 And, unlike the go-to source of carbohydrates and proteins, the go-to alternative energy was deposited fat. Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 7 May 2025 But unlike hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative energy sources, only nuclear can be fashioned into offensive weapons of mass destruction. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025 To enable the removal of four hydroelectric dams considered especially harmful to salmon, the government promised to invest billions of dollars in alternative energy sources to be created by the tribes. Tony Schick, ProPublica, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for alternative energy

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alternative energy was in 1959

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alternative energy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternative%20energy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!