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

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

The Environment for Development, a global research network, estimates that around a third are unusable items that end up in landfills -- mostly made from plastic-based materials like nylon and polyester that does not biodegrade.

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 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

"We're trying to find replacements for materials that already exist, and make sure these replacements will biodegrade at the end of their useful life instead of collecting in the environment. That's not easy."

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