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
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Each facility has a pyrolysis reactor based on the Viking design that converts agricultural residues such as cashew hulls from area farms into biofuels and high-quality carbon credits for sale on international markets.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Two girls and a man are presumed dead following an explosion at a Nebraska biofuels plant on Tuesday, July 29.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 30 July 2025
At least three people are dead, including two children, after a dramatic explosion Tuesday afternoon at a Nebraska biofuels plant.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofuel. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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