biofuel

noun

bio·​fu·​el ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ˈfyü(-ə)l 

: a fuel (such as wood or ethanol) composed of or produced from biological raw materials compare fossil fuel

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Palm oil is mainly grown in parts of Asia and is used as an ingredient in a wide variety of foods and other products — including cosmetics and biofuels. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Following chemical reactions at such a tiny scale can help researchers develop more efficient reactions, which is useful for everything from creating biofuels to developing solar energy technology. — Sophya Garashchuk, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

The Georgia Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition launched Wednesday to evaluate the economic viability of a homegrown biofuel industry. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026

As fuel prices soar, major economies including Brazil, India, Indonesia, and the US are advancing policies to expand biofuel mandates in petroleum products. — Chloé Farand, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biofuel

• cruel
• dual
• duel
• fuel
• gruel
• jewel
• newel
• accrual
• nonfuel
• refuel
• renewal
• contextual

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