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

For example, Costco stores within the city of San Diego have voluntarily replaced foam meat trays with biodegradable plastic trays. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

The biodegradable bags, the outlet said, contain a chemical that makes human waste fragrance-free. —Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024

There are compostable wristbands, biodegradable confetti and stationary bicycles that fans on the floor can ride mid-set to generate power to the production’s smaller C stage. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024

The fabric is eucalyptus Tencel lyocell, which is sustainable and biodegradable. —Medea Giordano, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024

But with a pollution crisis now painfully evident on land, at sea and now in space, one of the most symbolic launches since Sputnik is scheduled for this summer, when scientists from Japan and NASA launch the world’s first biodegradable satellite, made mostly of wood. —Bill Weir, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024

In a landmark move, the EU Parliament has just adopted a law that will – amongst other things – ban businesses from making misleading or unsubstantiated green claims, such as ‘eco-friendly’, ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘natural’, ‘recycled’ and ‘biodegradable’. —Solitaire Townsend, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024

According to a Turbo Melt employee, the biodegradable waste product elongates the lifetime and therefore the effectiveness of the magnesium chloride compound. —Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2024

Look for cleaning products that are biodegradable and follow sustainability guidelines like the EPA's while maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. —Vinay Chandrashekar, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

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