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

Last year, wind and solar generated more electricity than fossil fuels for the first time in Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal

Increased burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil over the last two centuries has released greenhouse gases like CO2 into the atmosphere, which have warmed our planet.

From BBC

The study also found that fossil fuel use and wildfires played only a small role in the recent methane increase.

From Science Daily

The results have been welcomed by climate and clean energy groups, who see solar as a relatively cheap way to reduce the UK's reliance on fossil fuels during the summer months.

From BBC

But now Japan is turning to atomic energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and meet growing energy needs from artificial intelligence.

From Barron's