biodegradable

[ bahy-oh-di-grey-duh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of decaying through the action of living organisms:

   biodegradable paper; biodegradable detergent.

biodegradable

/ ˌbaɪəʊˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən; ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbəl; ˌbaɪəʊˌdɛɡreɪdɪˈbɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. (of sewage constituents, packaging material, etc) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other biological means

biodegradable

/ bī′ō-dĭ-grā′də-bəl /

1. Capable of being decomposed by the action of biological agents, especially bacteria.

biodegradable

1. Material that, left to itself, will be decomposed by natural processes.

Notes

The use of biodegradable packaging is supposed to reduce the volume of waste in landfills.

Derived Forms

• biodegradability, noun
• biodegradation, noun

Other Words From

• bio·de·grada·bili·ty noun
• nonbi·o·de·grada·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of biodegradable¹

First recorded in 1960–65; bio- + degrade + -able

Example Sentences

And the prince was no exception, dressed in a second-hand double-breasted Prince of Wales check jacket and white plastic-free fully biodegradable shoes.

From BBC

The end result is a clear, unscented, biodegradable liquid about the viscosity of baby oil that allows you to indulge in a little guilty pleasure without feeling guilty about the environment.

From Los Angeles Times

The paint from i2Cool does not contain heavy metals and uses a water-based emulsion, and while it is not biodegradable, it can be recycled, says Dr Zhu.

From BBC

So if it’s going be difficult for the planet; is it not biodegradable; if it’s going to end up in landfills; all of that informs one decision.”

From Slate

While my brother and the man on the other end of the phone tried to triangulate an available plot that faced Mecca, workers at the burial site expressed concern as to whether the cloth used to wrap Dad’s body would be fully biodegradable.

From Slate