: designed to run on either traditional gasoline or a gasoline/alcohol blend (such as gasohol)
In the past few years, Brazil's bioethanol industry has sprouted new wings thanks to higher petrol prices and 'flex-fuel' cars, which can sense different mixtures of petrol and ethanol and adjust their workings accordingly.Emma Marris

Examples of flex-fuel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Flex fuel can only be used in vehicles designed for it — called flex-fuel vehicles or FFVS — but even these vehicles getroughly 15% to 27% fewer miles per gallon using flex fuel compared to unleaded 87. Sean McDonnell, cleveland, 15 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flex-fuel was in 1987

Dictionary Entries Near flex-fuel

Cite this Entry

“Flex-fuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flex-fuel. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!