biodegrade

American  

[bahy-oh-di-greyd] / ˌbaɪ oʊ dɪˈgreɪd /

verb (used without object)

biodegraded, biodegrading

1. to decay and become absorbed by the environment.

   toys that will biodegrade when they're discarded.

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Other Word Forms

• biodegradation noun

Etymology

Origin of biodegrade

First recorded in 1970–75; back formation from biodegradable

Example Sentences

"These discarded butts are toxic and a significant source of plastic pollution, due to their filters, which do not biodegrade."

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

Wie’s group is developing versions of these robots that biodegrade after use, eliminating the need for surgical removal, and coatings that make the robots compatible with human tissue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 1, 2025

One of the most common compounds is a polyester known as PLA, short for polylactic acid, which will biodegrade in an industrial compost setting.

From New York Times • May 20, 2024

New research from scientists at the University of California San Diego and materials-science company Algenesis shows that their plant-based polymers biodegrade -- even at the microplastic level -- in under seven months.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2024

Enzymes have evolved alongside them to break down their chemical bonds, allowing microbes to biodegrade organic material.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2023