biofuel
noun
bio·fu·el ˌbi-(ˌ)ō-ˈfyü(-ə)l 
: a fuel (such as wood or ethanol) composed of or produced from biological raw materials compare fossil fuel
Did you know?
Since the early 19th century, "fossil fuel" has been used to refer to fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas which are formed from the remains of plants and animals which have lain in the earth for millions of years. In the 1970s, a new word, "biofuel," began to be used to describe a different kind of fuel, one taken from more contemporary organic matter. These fuels include ethanol, which can be derived from such products as corn and sugarcane, and biodiesel, which can be formed from vegetable oils. These organic sources are reflected in the prefix, bio-, meaning "life" or "living organisms or tissue." The prefix bio- was borrowed from the Greek bios, meaning "mode of life."
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Some large refiners such as Marathon Petroleum and Phillips 66 have sought to comply with biofuel mandates by converting refineries to produce renewable diesel from vegetable oil. 
The Editorial Board, WSJ, 15 June 2022 Even regular gasoline typically has up to a 10% ethanol blend, so E15 is just more biofuel in your gas. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 12 Apr. 2022 Weinberg-Lynn points out that more biofuel units will be built there, towering 10 stories high. Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2022 Probably the key ingredient to reaching at least the best-case scenario for SAF is figuring out how to get swing biofuel capacity — the 20% or so of production capable of turning out either RD or SAF — to switch to SAF. Oliver Wyman, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 It is also used in fertilizer, food, biofuel, construction materials and medicinal products. Fox News, 4 Aug. 2022 Casey Norton, a spokesperson for ExxonMobil, did not answer when asked about whether the company was working on integrating processes like wastewater treatment as part of its algae biofuel strategy. Melina Walling, The Arizona Republic, 19 May 2022 For example, a big part of our energy policy over the past decade has been ramping up the nation's biofuel programs. Robert Rapier, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 But switching over has knock-on effects, like requiring more fertilizer to grow biofuel crops, which also produces emissions. Gideon Lichfield, Wired, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
The Editorial Board, WSJ, 15 June 2022 Even regular gasoline typically has up to a 10% ethanol blend, so E15 is just more biofuel in your gas. Ella Nilsen, CNN, 12 Apr. 2022 Weinberg-Lynn points out that more biofuel units will be built there, towering 10 stories high. Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2022 Probably the key ingredient to reaching at least the best-case scenario for SAF is figuring out how to get swing biofuel capacity — the 20% or so of production capable of turning out either RD or SAF — to switch to SAF. Oliver Wyman, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 It is also used in fertilizer, food, biofuel, construction materials and medicinal products. Fox News, 4 Aug. 2022 Casey Norton, a spokesperson for ExxonMobil, did not answer when asked about whether the company was working on integrating processes like wastewater treatment as part of its algae biofuel strategy. Melina Walling, The Arizona Republic, 19 May 2022 For example, a big part of our energy policy over the past decade has been ramping up the nation's biofuel programs. Robert Rapier, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 But switching over has knock-on effects, like requiring more fertilizer to grow biofuel crops, which also produces emissions. Gideon Lichfield, Wired, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1974, in the meaning defined above
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