adjective

eco friendly

EE-koh FREND-lee

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Eco friendly (adjective) means Designed or made so as to do as little harm to the natural environment as possible, for example by using less energy, avoiding toxic materials or being recyclable. Example: “They switched to eco friendly packaging made from compressed paper pulp.”

adjective

Designed or made so as to do as little harm to the natural environment as possible, for example by using less energy, avoiding toxic materials or being recyclable.

"They switched to eco friendly packaging made from compressed paper pulp."

"The hotel markets itself as eco friendly, running entirely on solar power."

How to use eco friendly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMade in a way that does less damage to the environment.

When to use it

Very common in marketing; sceptical readers may treat it as a greenwashing signal unless it is backed by specifics.

Memory tip

Use a hyphen when it sits directly before a noun: an eco-friendly detergent.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

sustainable → biodegradable → organic → carbon neutral

Common pairings

eco-friendly packaging eco-friendly products eco-friendly cleaning more eco-friendly

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “eco friendly” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They switched to _____ packaging made from compressed paper pulp.

Etymology

A compound of the prefix 'eco-', shortened from 'ecology' (ultimately from Greek 'oikos', house), and 'friendly' in the sense 'not harmful to'.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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environmentally friendly green sustainable low-impact earth-friendly

Antonyms

polluting harmful wasteful

Related words

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Rhymes for eco friendly

friendly unfriendly

See all rhymes for eco friendly →

Frequently asked questions

Is it 'eco friendly' or 'eco-friendly'?

The hyphenated 'eco-friendly' is the standard spelling in dictionaries and edited prose. The unhyphenated 'eco friendly' is very common online and in marketing, but hyphenate it before a noun to be safe.

What is the difference between eco-friendly and sustainable?

Eco-friendly describes a single product or practice that causes little environmental harm right now. Sustainable is a stronger claim about a whole system being able to continue indefinitely without depleting resources. A recyclable plastic bottle can be eco-friendly without the system that makes it being sustainable.

Is 'eco-friendly' a regulated term?

In most countries it is not a defined legal term, so anyone can use it. Advertising regulators do require such claims to be truthful and substantiated, which is why vague uses are often criticised as greenwashing.

What is the meaning of eco friendly?

"eco friendly" (adjective) means designed or made so as to do as little harm to the natural environment as possible, for example by using less energy, avoiding toxic materials or being recyclable.

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