fossil fuel

noun

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

fossil-fueled

ˈfä-səl-ˌfyü(-ə)ld 

adjective

Examples of fossil fuel in a Sentence

oil and other fossil fuels

Recent Examples on the Web

The wildfires in Canada’s boreal forests are burning with greater size and intensity because of climate change, as greenhouse gas emissions from human use of fossil fuels continue to drive global warming. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026

Four decades ago science had already identified the possibility that the large scale use of fossil fuels might trap enough solar energy to begin shifting the Earth’s climate state. — Adam Frank, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Extreme weather events represent the cyclical and compounding relationship between fossil fuel combustion, a warming climate, natural disasters, and related illnesses. — Rebecca Florsheim, STAT, 17 July 2026

Another study, published in Nature, found that Canadian wildfires in 2023, when more than 43 million acres burned, generated more emissions than the burning of fossil fuels in all but the three most-polluting countries. — Joshua Partlow, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fossil fuel

• accrual
• nonfuel
• refuel
• renewal
• biofuel
• contextual
• nonrenewal
• nonsexual
• unusual
• cruel
• dual
• duel

Kids Definition

fossil fuel

noun

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