net-zero

adjective

net-ze·​ro ˈnet-ˈzē-(ˌ)rō How to pronounce net-zero (audio)
-ˈzir-(ˌ)ō
: resulting in neither a surplus nor a deficit of something specified when gains and losses are added together
net-zero carbon emissions
The General Services Administration has sealed an unusual deal to guarantee achievement of net-zero energy consumption in a federal facility …Charles S. Clark
especially, of buildings : producing enough energy (as through solar panels or passive heating) to offset any energy consumed
By 2020 all new homes built in California will have to be net-zero buildings that produce enough power to offset all their energy needs … K. Kaufmann
Another affordable, net-zero house is under construction in North Minneapolis, and a third is in development at the school. John Cary

Examples of net-zero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Essex Resort and Spa has cooking classes for kids 8 and up, and The Sugar House Hotel in Winooski is planned to open this fall and is planned to be Marriott’s first all-electric, net-zero energy property. Jaclyn Greenberg, Parents, 29 June 2026 Money raised from the program would go to pollution reduction and clean energy technologies to help the state hit its 2050 goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 June 2026 The hardest part of building India’s first fully net-zero carbon and water manufacturing plant was proving whether the model could work at all. Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 25 June 2026 This expansion supports Zijin’s goal of reaching net-zero mining operations. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for net-zero

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of net-zero was in 1936

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Net-zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net-zero. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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