alternative energy

American  

noun

1. energy, as solar, wind, or nuclear energy, that can replace or supplement traditional fossil-fuel sources, as coal, oil, and natural gas.

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alternative energy British  

noun

1. Also called: renewable energy.  a form of energy derived from a natural source, such as the sun, wind, tides, or waves

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Etymology

Origin of alternative energy

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alternative energy

During the Iran war, however, higher prices reduced “discretionary use, refiners cut runs, inventories became a buffer,” and alternative energy, which had been treated as background noise, “suddenly mattered in the real economy,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026

China, which has several methods of alternative energy to lean on, has not been as affected by the war as other Asian countries.

From Salon ● May 14, 2026

That partly reflects changes in the economy, such as more energy-efficient machinery and cars, a greater stock of oil supplies and a broader range of alternative energy sources.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

Shell announced in November that it was ending its participation in two offshore wind projects in the North Sea, part of its shift away from alternative energy to focus on its fossil fuels business.

From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026

The Energy Security Act also provides significant incentives for the development of gasohol and biomass fuels, thereby enhancing the nation's supply of alternative energy sources.

From State of the Union Address by Jimmy Carter