fossil fuel

American  

[fos-uhl fyoo-uhl] / ˈfɒs əl ˈfju əl /

noun

Energy.

fossil fuels plural

1. any combustible organic material, as oil, coal, or natural gas, derived from the remains of former life.

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fossil fuel British  

noun

1. any naturally occurring carbon or hydrocarbon fuel, such as coal, petroleum, peat, and natural gas, formed by the decomposition of prehistoric organisms

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fossil fuel Scientific  

1. A hydrocarbon fuel, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from the accumulated remains of ancient plants and animals and used as fuel. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases generated by burning fossil fuels are considered to be one of the principal causes of global warming.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fossil fuels
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fossil fuel

Meanwhile, there’s a growing business case for companies in Europe to electrify their industrial heat, according to a recent report from McKinsey—particularly as fossil fuel prices remain volatile.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Oregon's Multnomah County, for example, is suing fossil fuel giants for more than $51 billion over pollution that fueled a deadly 2021 heat dome in the Pacific Northwest, during which hundreds died.

From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026

"If we dramatically cut CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning, or reduce deforestation, the projected increase would be lower," Melillo explains.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

"Geothermal today is still more expensive because you are not getting as much power out of the well as you would if you were using that well for fossil fuel."

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

There’s the natural gas in the fertilizer and the fossil fuel energy it takes to make the pesticides, the diesel used by the tractors, and the fuel needed to harvest, dry, and transport the corn.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan