fossil fuel

Definition of fossil fuel

: a fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) formed in the earth from plant or animal remains

Other Words from fossil fuel Example Sentences Learn More about fossil fuel

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Examples of fossil fuel in a Sentence

oil and other fossil fuels

Recent Examples on the Web Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, released from tailpipes and fossil fuel power plants, react with heat and sunlight in the atmosphere to form ozone. — Ula Chrobak, Popular Science, "Decades of U.S. air quality improvements may be slowing, and these areas have it the worst," 4 Feb. 2020 In a victory for fossil fuel producers and real estate developers, the Trump administration on Thursday will replace an Obama-era regulation that protects 60 percent of the country's waterways. — TheWeek, "Trump administration to finalize rule removing environmental protections for streams and wetlands," 23 Jan. 2020 Gross says such efficiency can deliver heat 20 percent more cheaply than fossil fuels can. — Laura Mallonee, Wired, "Automated Solar Arrays Could Help Incinerate Global Warming," 21 Jan. 2020 This is the predicament facing the German industrial titan, as activists campaign their relatively small involvement in Australia’s fossil fuel industry. — Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, "Welcome to the future (of Fortune, that is)," 15 Jan. 2020 His commitment to fossil fuels was already well known. — Carolyn Kormann, The New Yorker, "When Will Australia’s Prime Minister Accept the Reality of the Climate Crisis?," 15 Jan. 2020 This week's protest focused on major banks and investors that finance the expansion of the fossil fuel industry. — Leah Asmelash, CNN, "Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Sheen arrested in Jane Fonda's weekly climate change protests," 10 Jan. 2020 According to a press release, this week's protest focused on the fossil fuel industry. — Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, "Sam Waterston arrested during Jane Fonda's climate change protest; Fonda avoids arrest," 6 Jan. 2020 Yet he’s also accepted funding from an array of corporate forces, including Comcast, AT&T, Nike, Amazon, pharmaceutical companies, and the fossil fuel industry. — Tyler Walicek, Teen Vogue, "Meet Paige Kreisman, the Socialist Vet Running to Become Oregon’s First Trans Lawmaker," 12 Dec. 2019

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

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Learn More about fossil fuel

Dictionary Entries near fossil fuel

Fossil Butte National Monument

fossilification

Statistics for fossil fuel

Last Updated

8 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Fossil fuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fossil%20fuel. Accessed 16 Feb. 2020.

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