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
Ryan Cummings, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
This challenge has been particularly evident in areas such as biofuels, where translating laboratory successes into industrial-scale production has proved difficult.
—André O. Hudson, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
These include more funding to upgrade the bloc’s grid network and transmission lines, incentivizing production and use of biofuels and sustainable jet fuel, and expanding the role of non-fossil fuel energy sources such as nuclear.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
That’s up from 30% currently, with abundant biofuel supplies and low prices helping to ease fuel price pressure at Brazilian pumps.
—Dayanne Sousa, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Biofuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biofuel. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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