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biodegrade

American

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

verb (used without object)

biodegraded, biodegrading

to decay and become absorbed by the environment.

toys that will biodegrade when they're discarded.

Other Word Forms

biodegradation noun

Etymology

Origin of biodegrade

First recorded in 1970–75; back formation from biodegradable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"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

These polymer-based biocompatible materials are useful for their abilities to retain water, deliver drugs into wounds, and biodegrade.

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2024

The vast majority of these products cannot be recycled and can take hundreds of years to biodegrade in landfill sites.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023