Synonyms

fossil fuel

American

[fos-uhl fyoo-uhl] / ˈfɒs əl ˈfyu əl /

noun

Energy.

any combustible organic material, as oil, coal, or natural gas, derived from the remains of former life.

fossil fuel British

noun

any naturally occurring carbon or hydrocarbon fuel, such as coal, petroleum, peat, and natural gas, formed by the decomposition of prehistoric organisms

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fossil fuel Scientific

A hydrocarbon fuel, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from the accumulated remains of ancient plants and animals and used as fuel. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases generated by burning fossil fuels are considered to be one of the principal causes of global warming.

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.

Dubai has been transformed into a major global economic hub through diversification in sectors such as transportation, finance and tourism, to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels.

From Barron's

Using fossil fuels to heat up water, warm indoor air and cook food inside homes and businesses was responsible for 13% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

While fossil fuels still play a big part in the energy market, more power was generated by renewable energy in the EU last year for the first time.

From BBC

Green hydrogen is widely seen as a key pillar of the global shift away from fossil fuels.

From Science Daily

It also lets them claim their data centers are running on wind and solar power, even if the grid is backed up by fossil fuels.

From The Wall Street Journal

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