biodegradable
adjective
Ruth Lampi
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In biodegradable, with its root grad, "to step or move", and its prefix de- "downward", we get an adjective describing things that can be broken down into basic substances through normal environmental processes. Animal and plant products are normally biodegradable, but mineral substances such as metals, glass, and plastics usually are not. Newly developed biodegradable plastics are now appearing in numerous products. However, "biodegradable" products can vary greatly in how long they take to break down. A loaf of bread may require only a couple of weeks, and a piece of paper may vanish in a couple of months, but some "biodegradable" plastic milk cartons may take four or five years.
Examples of biodegradable in a Sentence
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Joseph Wu and John Obielodan extracted proteins from spoiled milk and blended them with traditional plastic components to make a biodegradable alternative.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Calik Denim remains focused on biodegradable solutions.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
Organic mulches are biodegradable, improving the soil texture and adding nutrients.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biodegradable
Cite this Entry
“Biodegradable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodegradable. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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biodegradable
adjective
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biodegradable
adjective
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