biofuel

noun

bio·​fu·​el ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ˈfyü(-ə)l 

: a fuel (such as wood or ethanol) composed of or produced from biological raw materials compare fossil fuel

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Even so, scientists like Lindell remain confident that their work will be applied to a biofuel industry in the future. —ABC News, 6 May 2026

The regulation currently raises gas prices by 17 cents a gallon without delivering meaningful climate benefits; indeed, some experts believe biofuel programs actually add to carbon emissions. —Ryan Cummings, Mercury News, 1 May 2026

Demand for biofuels has been growing in many parts of the world. —Anuradha Raghu, Bloomberg, 30 Apr. 2026

Researchers have engineered microbes to produce lifesaving drugs such as artemisinin, an antimalarial compound, and to manufacture sustainable biofuels that could reduce reliance on fossil fuels. —André O. Hudson, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biofuel

• cruel
• dual
• duel
• fuel
• gruel
• jewel
• newel
• accrual
• nonfuel
• refuel
• renewal
• contextual

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