fossil fuel

American  

[fos-uhl fyoo-uhl] / ˈfɒs əl ˈfyu 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

They can use electricity generated from increasingly clean sources, as wind and solar power replace polluting fossil fuels.

From BBC

That reflects the high cost of building Hinkley C, but supporters of nuclear power say that it is a guarantee against the volatile global market for fossil fuels.

From BBC

A series of chemical processes then transform those fossil fuels into Polyethylene terephthalate -- or PET -- which the bottle is made from.

From Barron's

“We are standing up for our national interest by driving for clean energy, which can get the U.K. off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and give us energy sovereignty and abundance,” he said in a statement.

From The Wall Street Journal

The government says the deal will strengthen energy security by offering an escape from what it calls the "fossil fuel rollercoaster".

From BBC