biofuel

American  

[bahy-oh-fyoo-uhl] / ˈbaɪ oʊˌfju əl /

noun

biofuels plural

1. fuel, as wood or ethanol, derived from biomass.

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biofuel British  

/ ˈbaɪəʊˌfjʊəl /

noun

1. a gaseous, liquid, or solid substance of biological origin that is used as a fuel

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biofuel Scientific  

/ bī′ō-fyo̅o̅′əl /

1. Fuel produced from renewable resources, especially plant biomass, vegetable oils, and treated municipal and industrial wastes. Biofuels are considered neutral with respect to the emission of carbon dioxide because the carbon dioxide given off by burning them is balanced by the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants that are grown to produce them. The use of biofuels as an additive to petroleum-based fuels can also result in cleaner burning with less emission of carbon monoxide and particulates.

2. ◆ Ethanol produced by fermenting the sugars in biomass materials such as corn and agricultural residues is known as bioethanol. Bioethanol is used in internal-combustion engines either in pure form or more often as a gasoline additive.

3. ◆ Biodiesel is made by processing vegetable oils and other fats and is also used either in pure form or as an additive to petroleum-based diesel fuel.

4. ◆ Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter such as sewage and municipal wastes by bacteria. It is used especially in the generation of hot water and electricity.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• biofuels
  plural

Etymology

Origin of biofuel

First recorded in 1970–75; bio- + fuel

Explanation

Biofuel is organic material that's burned to create energy. Wood is considered a biofuel, and so is ethanol, which is made from corn. Fuel that comes from living matter is categorized as biofuel, often to distinguish it from fossil fuels. Anything that was once part of a plant, animal, or algae, which is burned to create energy, is biofuel. While it's considered to be renewable and cleaner than oil or gas, biofuel is criticized for the environmental impact of refining it (turning corn into ethanol, for example), and the emissions created from burning it. Biofuel was coined in the 1980s.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

biofuel biofuels

However, because the beads are entirely organic, they could then be repurposed as agricultural fertilizer or converted into biofuel.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 11, 2026

From burying power lines to building out biofuel plants and other renewable energy projects, the company has plenty of business tied to non-tech infrastructure as well.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

Declines in crude tend to weigh on demand for palm oil as a biofuel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

The bill’s outcome could impact lower-income consumption, food producers, retailers, crop insurers, and the biofuel and energy sectors.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

Plus, the energy industry reckons with higher prices, and how Exxon touted its algae biofuel despite scientists’ doubts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026

Facing reduced sales to China, Trump said his administration had expanded exports of American meat, poultry, soybeans, biofuels and Wisconsin dairy, citing stronger dairy sales to Japan, the Middle East, Europe, South Asia and Australia.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

Doubts over the sector and low prospective returns meant that energy majors have so far largely stayed away, preferring to invest in biofuels, said Mutrelle.

From Barron's ● May 31, 2026

Traders are removing the risk premium and are also responding to lower crude futures—with oil and grains related due to biofuels.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

During the pandemic, weaker margins led several plants to close or to convert to biofuels.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 29, 2026

Before you know it, efficient production of biofuels will give us the equivalent of hundreds of miles from a gallon of gas.

From State of the Union Address by Clinton, William Jefferson