biodegradable
adjective
Ruth Lampi
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In biodegradable, with its root grad, "to step or move", and its prefix de- "downward", we get an adjective describing things that can be broken down into basic substances through normal environmental processes. Animal and plant products are normally biodegradable, but mineral substances such as metals, glass, and plastics usually are not. Newly developed biodegradable plastics are now appearing in numerous products. However, "biodegradable" products can vary greatly in how long they take to break down. A loaf of bread may require only a couple of weeks, and a piece of paper may vanish in a couple of months, but some "biodegradable" plastic milk cartons may take four or five years.
Examples of biodegradable in a Sentence
Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Simple ingredients, natural products, even biodegradable can be focussed on the lack of skin toxins.
—Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Their toothpaste tablets are packaged in refillable containers made of aluminum, the refill pouches are made of biodegradable wood cellulose and all ingredients are responsibly and sustainably sourced.
—Jennifer Chan, StyleCaster, 30 Apr. 2025
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Made from biodegradable bamboo fiber, this lightweight one-gallon bin reads more like a Scandi bread box than something meant to house apple cores and onion skins.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biodegradable
Cite this Entry
“Biodegradable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodegradable. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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biodegradable
adjective
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biodegradable
adjective
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