decarbonize

American  

[dee-kahr-buh-nahyz] / diˈkɑr bəˌnaɪz /

especially British, decarbonise

verb (used with object)

decarbonized, decarbonizing

1. to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of (a household, industry, country, etc.).

   Our expertise is in designing new ways to decarbonize our economy, using solar energy and renewable carbon to replace fossil fuels.

2. decarburize.

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verb (used without object)

1. to reduce the carbon output of the activities of a household, industry, country, etc..

   The world is not decarbonizing fast enough to reach global climate targets.

decarbonize British  

/ diːˈkɑːbəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. Also: decoke.   decarburize.  (tr) to remove carbon from (the walls of the combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine)

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Other Word Forms

• decarbonization noun
• decarbonizer noun

Etymology

Origin of decarbonize

First recorded in 1815–25; de- + carbonize

Example Sentences

Clean hydrogen, a fuel that was expected to become a big part of America’s push to decarbonize, appears to be dead for now.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

As part of its energy surge, China has pushed rapid investment into the only technology that currently can decarbonize the planet at scale: nuclear fission and fusion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

“But there’s a good chance that by then, demand for gas in South Korea will have fallen alongside the broader push to decarbonize, which will lead to oversupply and depressed prices,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2025

Vehicles fueled by diesel lead to substantial carbon emissions that are challenging to decarbonize.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

The lungs will not decarbonize and purify the blood with foul air, that has been breathed over and over and lost its oxygen.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, No. 60, October, 1862 by Various