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

Aleph and Fortescue co-led the seed round, with Fortescue exploring options to decarbonize its iron-ore operations by 2030.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

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

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

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

More climate-ambitious states are already layering on their own monetary incentives to decarbonize.

From Salon • Oct. 26, 2024

They do not find sufficient oxygen to purify or decarbonize their blood through the night; they consequently are not refreshed, nor invigorated and fully prepared for the labors of the following day.

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