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

The thermoplastic polymer can allegedly plug into existing synthetic fiber manufacturing facilities and is 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable upon end-of-life. —Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 14 May 2025

Compost The compost recycling symbol indicates that a product or material is biodegradable and can be composted. —Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2025

Jellyfish are lightweight, biodegradable, and potentially genetically modifiable. —Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025

The biodegradable trays can be broken up and planted directly in the ground. —Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 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