fossil fuels

Cultural  

1. Coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

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All fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide when burned. (See greenhouse effect.)

Burning fossil fuels is a main cause of air pollution.

All of these fuels were formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.

Example Sentences

But Gourinchas said the world was now less dependent on oil and fossil fuels, so the impact on consumers would be less severe.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Georgieva said oil and gas exporting countries that haven’t been swept up in the conflict will be least affected, while those that import fossil fuels will “bear the brunt of the impact.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

“Tom has put in place an investment policy to ensure that he does not directly invest in fossil fuels, payday lending, or private prisons,” spokesman Anthony York said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Although a major oil and gas producer, Iran sought to revive the project in the late 1980s to diversify its energy resources and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for domestic consumption.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Unlike fossil fuels, wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems generate electricity with no associated air pollution emissions.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler