biodegradable

American  

[bahy-oh-di-grey-duh-buhl] / ˌbaɪ oʊ dɪˈgreɪ də bəl /

adjective

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

   biodegradable paper; biodegradable detergent.

---

biodegradable British  

/ ˌbaɪəʊˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən, ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbəl, ˌbaɪəʊˌdɛɡreɪdɪˈbɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

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

---

biodegradable Scientific  

/ bī′ō-dĭ-grā′də-bəl /

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

---

biodegradable Cultural  

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

---

Discover More

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

Other Word Forms

• biodegradability noun
• biodegradation noun
• nonbiodegradable adjective

Etymology

Origin of biodegradable

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

Example Sentences

Ashley said biodegradable bags could also help, adding that food recycling was for solids only, not for milk or sauces.

From BBC

"Most biodegradable nappies still end up in landfill because industrial composting facilities are limited or unavailable in many regions," says Jagadev.

From BBC

Bodies are wrapped in a shroud of biodegradable material such as silk or wool before being placed in a pressurised chamber with hot water and chemicals, speeding up decomposition.

From BBC

As concerns grow about the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste, scientists are accelerating efforts to develop safer, biodegradable alternatives.

From Science Daily

"The potential applications are vast -- lightweight protective clothing, airplane components, biodegradable medical implants, and even soft robotics could benefit from fibres engineered using these natural principles," he said.

From Science Daily