biofuel

American  

[bahy-oh-fyoo-uhl] / ˈbaɪ oʊˌfyu əl /

noun

1. fuel, as wood or ethanol, derived from biomass.

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biofuel British  

/ ˈbaɪəʊˌfjʊəl /

noun

1. a gaseous, liquid, or solid substance of biological origin that is used as a fuel

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biofuel Scientific  

/ bī′ō-fyo̅o̅′əl /

1. Fuel produced from renewable resources, especially plant biomass, vegetable oils, and treated municipal and industrial wastes. Biofuels are considered neutral with respect to the emission of carbon dioxide because the carbon dioxide given off by burning them is balanced by the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants that are grown to produce them. The use of biofuels as an additive to petroleum-based fuels can also result in cleaner burning with less emission of carbon monoxide and particulates.

2. ◆ Ethanol produced by fermenting the sugars in biomass materials such as corn and agricultural residues is known as bioethanol. Bioethanol is used in internal-combustion engines either in pure form or more often as a gasoline additive.

3. ◆ Biodiesel is made by processing vegetable oils and other fats and is also used either in pure form or as an additive to petroleum-based diesel fuel.

4. ◆ Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter such as sewage and municipal wastes by bacteria. It is used especially in the generation of hot water and electricity.

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Etymology

Origin of biofuel

First recorded in 1970–75; bio- + fuel

Example Sentences

The regulatory requirement for U.S. refiners to blend billions of gallons of biofuel into fuel is closely watched by corn and soybean farmers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

He explained that the U.S. balance sheet doesn’t have another 294 million bushels of available soybeans to export, especially if the U.S. government delivers strong biofuel quotas as expected in a matter of weeks.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 4, 2026

Understanding this process is essential for developing crops that can grow with less water and still reliably produce food, biofuel and bioproducts, especially in regions facing drought.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

The FAO also pointed to lower crude oil prices, which further pressured global sugar prices by reducing demand from the biofuel sector.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

The renewables biofuel factory was intended to produce sustainable aviation fuel and diesel from waster, but faced unfavourable market conditions.

From Barron's • Oct. 30, 2025