fossil fuel

American  

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

noun

Energy.

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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Example Sentences

Princeton University was among the last of the Ivy League schools to divest from publicly traded fossil fuel companies in its endowment.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

The November summit in Antalya is taking shape as the Middle East conflict roils global energy markets, exposing fossil fuel importers to price spikes and supply shortages.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Again those fuels are likely to be a major cost for airlines, with estimates that the cost could be 10 times higher than traditional fossil fuel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

Researchers estimate that carbon released through soil respiration is seven to eight times greater than annual fossil fuel emissions produced by humans.

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

It runs on fossil fuel and creates tons of waste and pollution.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan