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
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2025
Besides biofuel, it’s used as a nutritional additive in animal feed.
—Nick Ferraro, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Besides biofuel, it’s used as a nutritional additive in animal feed.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
The next group is carbon-neutral fuels—biofuels and green methanol.
—Michaila Byrne, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biofuel
Cite this Entry
“Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofuel. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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