biodegradable

adjective

bio·​de·​grad·​able ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˈgrā-də-bəl 

: capable of being broken down especially into innocuous products by the action of living things (such as microorganisms)

biodegradable trash bags

biodegradability

ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˌgrā-də-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

biodegradable noun

plural biodegradables

"… we would never discourage the development of technologies that promote recyclables or biodegradables. [=biodegradable materials]"

—Ruth Lampi

biodegradation

ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ˌde-grə-ˈdā-shən 

noun

biodegrade

ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˈgrād 

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

What’s more, converting to biodegradable plastics entirely could result in an increase in biodegradable waste in landfills — and with it emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, the authors wrote. —Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025

Genuine leather has a luxe appeal, feels soft to the touch, and can be biodegradable if it’s tanned without harmful chemicals. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 25 June 2025

Their study, published in Nature Communications, outlines potential applications from bone and dental implants, to archaeological restoration, biodegradable plastic alternatives, and even construction materials. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2025

CiCLO makes synthetic textiles biodegradable by embedding nutrient-like spots in the plastic, allowing microbes to break them down like natural fibers. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biodegradable

• degradable
• tradable
• tradeable

Kids Definition

biodegradable

adjective

bio·​de·​grad·​able -di-ˈgrād-ə-bəl 

: capable of being broken down especially into harmless products by the action of living things (as bacteria)

biodegradability

-ˌgrād-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

biodegrade

-di-ˈgrād 

verb

Medical Definition

biodegradable

adjective

bio·​de·​grad·​able -di-ˈgrād-ə-bəl 

: capable of being broken down especially into innocuous products by the action of living things (as microorganisms)

biodegradability

-ˌgrād-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

plural biodegradabilities

biodegradation

-ˌdeg-rə-ˈdā-shən 

noun

biodegrade

-di-ˈgrād 

verb

biodegraded; biodegrading