biomass

noun

bio·​mass ˈbī-ō-ˌmas 

1

: the amount of living matter (as in a unit area or volume of habitat)

2

: plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel

Examples of biomass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, in 2024, over the summer, there was twice the average amount of biomass in grasslands and scrublands in coastal Southern California due to these two wet winters in a row. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

The company also offers a biomass gasification system that can use rice husks as a feedstock to generate electricity, as well as backup diesel generators. —Katie Fehrenbacher, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025

But Biden’s move this week formally applied it to these specific technologies — and excludes other power sources like biomass energy facilities that are not yet under construction. —Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 7 Jan. 2025

Humans are less than 1% of the world’s biomass but have 100% of the world’s democratic rights. —Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

biomass

noun

bio·​mass

ˈbī-ō-ˌmas

1

: the amount of living matter (as in an area or volume of habitat)

2

: plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel

Medical Definition

biomass

noun

bio·​mass -ˌmas 

: the amount of living matter (as in a unit area or volume of habitat)