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
Emily Wright, Washington Post, 27 June 2024
Nonprofit group offers education, group buy options For example, if a farmer abandoned a few fields that weren't performing well but maintained the rest of the farm, that could mean the land is in good shape to grow sustainable crops for biofuels, Lark said.
—Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 21 June 2024
Ethanol production already produces less carbon than gasoline production, but the industry must reduce that further to qualify for tax credits that require biofuel have a carbon score at least 50% lower than gasoline.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2024
The marine industry has been slowly moving away from diesel with hybrid propulsion systems, fuel cells, and biofuels, but one Turkish designer wants to ditch fuel completely.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for biofuel 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biofuel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near biofuel
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“Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofuel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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