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
Adam Sarhan, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
The oil major is investing some $20 billion in a suite of emissions-reducing businesses including carbon capture and storage, biofuels, lithium and hydrogen through 2027.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2024
The biofuel, which can also power regular cars after a simple retrofit, is made with manure from Barbados Blackbelly sheep; wastewater from rum production; and sargassum, a seaweed that has been inundating Caribbean shores, causing harm both to the ecosystem and the economy.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2024
Although California prioritizes the adoption of electric vehicles, the lion’s share of the $22 billion of private investment generated by the fuel standard has largely benefited biofuel companies.
—Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofuel. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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