biodegradable
adjective
Ruth Lampi
Did you know?
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
Kathleen Felton, SELF, 19 Nov. 2024
For example, home textiles made with Birla Excel are designed to be biodegradable, which helps reduce environmental impact after disposal.
—Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 4 Nov. 2024
The chlorine and cocoa butter paste is more easily biodegradable and the chlorine’s potency naturally deactivates within 24 hours.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Soy wax, derived from soybean oil, has become popular thanks to its eco-friendly, renewable, and biodegradable properties.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for biodegradable 
Dictionary Entries Near biodegradable
Cite this Entry
“Biodegradable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodegradable. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
biodegradable
adjective
Medical Definition
biodegradable
adjective
Share