alternative fuel

American  

noun

1. a vehicular fuel that is not entirely derived from petroleum, as natural gas, hydrogen, or an alcohol mixture.

   the environmental benefits of alternative fuels.

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Etymology

Origin of alternative fuel

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

By sharply reducing carbohydrates, the diet pushes the body into a state known as ketosis, in which fat is broken down into ketone bodies that serve as an alternative fuel for the brain.

From Science Daily • Jan. 27, 2026

Neither is ammonia—another alternative fuel that China dominates globally in production.

From Barron's • Nov. 18, 2025

In 2015, the National Fire Protection Assn. began publishing emergency field guides for alternative fuel vehicles as part of its safety training program.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2025

Ministers have decided not to support the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for heating homes, though they say it will have an important role in and around industrial sites.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2024

Right now, no alternative fuel is cost competitive on its own merit, Ian Coleman said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 26, 2023