biofuel
noun
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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
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Some will focus on LNG, trading, carbon capture, hydrogen, or biofuels.
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Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
With its rich agricultural resources, the country is aiming to become a leader in producing next-generation biofuels.
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Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
The company said Tuesday that Gordon Birrell will lead its upstream unit, which focuses on oil and gas, and Richard Harding will be interim head of the downstream unit, which includes refining, terminals, biofuels, and aviation.
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Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for biofuel
Cite this Entry
“Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofuel. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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