biodegradable

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US/(ˌ)baɪoʊdəˈɡɹeɪdəbl̩/US/(ˌ)baɪədəˈɡɹeɪdəbl̩/

adjective

Capable of being decomposed by biological activity, especially by microorganisms.

Similar
perishable
OriginEnglish degradable ← Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-) ← Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃- →
Less commonScrabble 20
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Meanings

adjectivebiodegradable (comparative more biodegradable, superlative most biodegradable)

comparative more biodegradable · superlative most biodegradable · alternative bio-degradable

  1. Capable of being decomposed by biological activity, especially by microorganisms.

    Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.

    2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200
nounbiodegradable (plural biodegradables)

plural biodegradables · alternative bio-degradable

  1. Any material that can be decomposed by biological activity.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivecapable of being decomposed by e.g. bacteria

Similar
perishable
Also see
perishable

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*gʷeyh₃-
  2. Ancient Greekβῐ́ος (bĭ́os)
  3. Ancient Greekβῐο- (bĭo-)
  4. Englishbio-
  5. Englishdegrade
  6. Englishdegradable
  7. Englishbiodegradable

From bio- + degradable.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan biodegradable
  • biodegradablecapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Chinese Mandarin 可生物降解的
  • 可生物降解的 (kě shēngwù jiàngjiě de)capable of being decomposed by biological activity
Dutch biologisch afbreekbaar, bioafbreekbaar
  • biologisch afbreekbaarcapable of being decomposed by biological activity
  • bioafbreekbaarcapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Esperanto biodegradebla
  • biodegradeblacapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Finnish biologisesti hajoava, biohajoava
  • biologisesti hajoavacapable of being decomposed by biological activity
  • biohajoavacapable of being decomposed by biological activity
French biodégradable
  • biodégradablecapable of being decomposed by biological activity
German biologisch abbaubar
  • biologisch abbaubarcapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Greek βιοαποικοδομήσιμος, βιοδιασπάσιμος
  • βιοαποικοδομήσιμος (vioapoikodomísimos)capable of being decomposed by biological activity
  • βιοδιασπάσιμος (viodiaspásimos)capable of being decomposed by biological activity
Hungarian biológiailag lebomló
  • biológiailag lebomlócapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Italian biodegradabile
  • biodegradabilecapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Latin biodegradibilis
  • biodegradibiliscapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Polish biodegradowalny
  • biodegradowalnycapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Portuguese biodegradável
  • biodegradávelcapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Russian биоразлага́емый
  • биоразлага́емый (biorazlagájemyj)capable of being decomposed by biological activity
Scottish Gaelic so-chnàmhach
  • so-chnàmhachcapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Spanish biodegradable
  • biodegradablecapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Swedish biologiskt nedbrytbar
  • biologiskt nedbrytbarcapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Tagalog nabubulok
  • nabubulokcapable of being decomposed by biological activity
Tamil மக்கும்
  • மக்கும் (makkum)capable of being decomposed by biological activity
Cite this entry
APA

biodegradable. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/biodegradable

MLA

“biodegradable.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/biodegradable. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “biodegradable,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/biodegradable.

Source: biodegradable on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.