biodegradable

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

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Definition of biodegradable

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

biodegradable trash bags

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biodegradability

play \ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˌgrā-də-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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biodegradable

noun, plural biodegradables

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

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biodegradation

play \ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ˌde-grə-ˈdā-shən\ noun

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biodegrade

play \ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˈgrād\ verb

See biodegradable defined for English-language learners

See biodegradable defined for kids

Recent Examples of biodegradable from the Web

The company will replace plastic straws onboard planes with biodegradable alternatives.

— erin corbett, Fortune, "These 8 Companies Are Ditching Plastic Straws. Here’s How They Are Replacing Them," 11 July 2018
This biodegradable soap is made entirely from a host of USDA Organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified ingredients.

— blanca myers, WIRED, "From Mats to Hoodies, 9 Ways to Elevate Your Yoga Practice," 24 June 2018
Starbucks has pointed out that straws won’t actually be eliminated—its stores will still have paper or biodegradable straws available for those who need them.

— emily atkin, The New Republic, "Critics of Starbucks’ Straw Ban Are Missing the Point," 12 July 2018
Popular alternatives for plastic straws include options made from biodegradable paper and metal, the latter of which are typically reusable once cleaned.

— gina martinez, Time, "'Disabled People Are Not Part of the Conversation.' Advocates Speak Out Against Plastic Straw Bans," 12 July 2018
The nontoxic biodegradable formula is made from plants and never tested on animals.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "Can this eco-friendly body glitter change music festival culture?," 12 July 2018
In an emailed statement, a spokeswoman for Burger King said that the brand would begin its rollout of biodegradable straws in the U.K. this September.

— NBC News, "After Starbucks, which company will next ban plastic straws?," 9 July 2018
Seattle residents will be sipping their drinks a bit differently this summer, with biodegradable straws instead of plastic ones.

— danielle garrand, CBS News, "Seattle ban on plastic straws to go into effect July 1," 20 June 2018
To ride out the shortage, some Bay Area bars are exploring other alternatives, such as biodegradable plastic straws.

— lou bustamante, SFChronicle.com, "With plastic straws on way out, Bay Area bartenders face paper straw shortage," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biodegradable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.