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fossil fuel
noun
: a fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) formed in the earth from plant or animal remains
Examples of fossil fuel in a Sentence
oil and other fossil fuels
Recent Examples on the Web
During his first time around as president, Donald Trump rolled back a bevy of environmental rules, withdrew from the Paris Agreement, and boosted the fossil fuel industry.
—Matt Simon / Grist, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
Researchers at Climate Analytics, a global climate science and policy institute based in Berlin, found that Australia is responsible for about 4.5% of global carbon emissions, with 80% of those emissions coming from its fossil fuel exports.
—Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Most agree that a transition away from fossil fuels is a good and needed thing, but very few who study the issue closely believe it can be done quickly, or without massive dislocation and collateral impacts, some or many of which cannot really be predicted, let alone dealt with, in advance.
—Daniel Markind, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Before Lincoln was born, actually, the Industrial Revolution had begun, marking the dawn of the fossil fuel era — which continues today with ever-deadlier heat waves, fires and floods.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1759, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fossil fuel
Cite this Entry
“Fossil fuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fossil%20fuel. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
fossil fuel
noun
: a fuel (as coal, oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from plant or animal remains
More from Merriam-Webster on fossil fuel
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fossil fuel
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