fossil fuel

[ fos-uhl fyoo-uhl ]

/ ˈfɒs əl ˈfyu əl /

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See synonyms for: fossil fuel / fossil fuels on Thesaurus.com

noun Energy.

any combustible organic material, as oil, coal, or natural gas, derived from the remains of former life.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Words nearby fossil fuel

Fosse Way, Fossey, fossick, fossil, fossil energy, fossil fuel, fossil fuels, fossil gum, fossiliferous, fossilize, fossil record

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fossil fuel in a sentence

Leaders recently committed to divesting the university’s holdings in fossil fuel companies.
George Washington University commits to single-use-plastic ban|Lauren Lumpkin|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
With few exceptions, economies sitting above rich reservoirs of fossil fuels develop anemic economies beset by corruption.
Climate action is poised to punch a $9 trillion hole in petrostates’ budgets|Michael J. Coren|February 11, 2021|Quartz
Even with renewable energy production coming on line at a breakneck pace, much of the world will still be using fossil fuels for the foreseeable future and the greenhouse gas emissions from that fossil fuel production needs to go to zero.
A startup using a new tech to make hydrogen extracts cash from Bill Gates’ climate tech fund|Jonathan Shieber|February 9, 2021|TechCrunch
Major countries are promising bold action, markets are moving away from fossil fuels, businesses are paying attention to climate concerns and upcoming stimulus funding could prioritize greener investments.
Countries must ramp up climate pledges by 80 percent to hit key Paris target, study finds|Brady Dennis|February 9, 2021|Washington Post

Our wettest days in San Diego could get 25-30 percent worse depending on how fast we warm up the planet with fossil fuel use, scientists predict.
Environment Report: The High Cost of Getting Rid of Water|MacKenzie Elmer|February 8, 2021|Voice of San Diego
But Sanders, a representative of the Northeastern vacation state of Vermont, also opposes fossil fuel development.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And given the current glut in fossil fuels, it might even be a better economic bet to wait a few years.
New York’s Conservative Fracking Ban|Jay Michaelson|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Added fuel to the fire, he said—as in, the fire was already burning.
The St. Louis Rams Enter the Ferguson Fray|Sally Kohn|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The company also converts the gas into a liquid fuel that can run vehicles in its fleet.
Garbage In, Power Out|The Daily Beast|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Adding fuel to the fire was an often ugly war of words between Mr. Gelb and the unions, both in the press and on social media.
Inside the Metropolitan Opera’s Insane Year|Shawn E. Milnes|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The hills in sight, however, are very considerably wooded, and wood is apparently the common fuel.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Adequate, of course; no sense in taking chances with lives that cost so much fuel to bring here.
Fee of the Frontier|Horace Brown Fyfe
She arrived in Liverpool on the 22d June, having consumed her fuel in ten days.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The mountains are covered with wood fit for fuel, mining, architecture, and machinery.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Sometimes the sheds are built near the woods where fuel can be procured, and in the immediate vicinity of the tobacco field.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for fossil fuel

fossil fuel

noun

any naturally occurring carbon or hydrocarbon fuel, such as coal, petroleum, peat, and natural gas, formed by the decomposition of prehistoric organisms

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for fossil fuel

fossil fuel

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.