adj
biodegradable
beye-oh-duh-GRAY-duhbl
Biodegradable (adj) means Capable of breaking down naturally through the action of bacteria or other living organisms. Example: “The company switched to biodegradable packaging last year.”
adj
1
Capable of breaking down naturally through the action of bacteria or other living organisms.
"The company switched to biodegradable packaging last year."
"Food waste is biodegradable, but plastic largely isn't."
How to use biodegradable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that rots away naturally instead of sitting around forever.
Common pairings
biodegradable material
biodegradable packaging
fully biodegradable
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Word forms
- Plural
- biodegradables
- Comparative
- more biodegradable
- Superlative
- most biodegradable
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company switched to _____ packaging last year.
Etymology
From "bio-" (life) plus "degradable," meaning capable of being broken down.
Rhymes for biodegradable
See all rhymes for biodegradable →Frequently asked questions
What does “biodegradable” mean?
The word “biodegradable” means capable of breaking down naturally through the action of bacteria or other living organisms. In plain terms, something that rots away naturally instead of sitting around forever.
How do you pronounce “biodegradable”?
“Biodegradable” is pronounced beye-oh-duh-GRAY-duhbl (/(ˌ)baɪoʊdəˈɡɹeɪdəbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “biodegradable” in a sentence?
Here is “biodegradable” used in a sentence: “The company switched to biodegradable packaging last year.”
What part of speech is “biodegradable”?
“Biodegradable” is an adjective.
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