biodegradable

UK: /ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈgreɪdəb^əl/

US: /ˌbaɪoʊdɪˈgreɪdəbəl/

US: (bī′ō di grā′də bəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bi•o•de•grad•a•ble /ˌbaɪoʊdɪˈgreɪdəbəl/   adj. 

1. Ecology capable of decaying through the action of living organisms:
   biodegradable paper.

bi•o•de•grad•a•bil•i•ty /ˌbaɪoʊdɪˌgreɪdəˈbɪlɪti/  n. 

[uncountable] the biodegradability of nonplastic containers.

See -grad-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bi•o•de•grad•a•ble  (bī′ō di grā′də bəl), adj. 

1. capable of decaying through the action of living organisms:
   biodegradable paper; biodegradable detergent.

• bio- + degrade + -able 1960–65

bi′o•de•grad′a•bil′i•ty, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

biodegradable / ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəb^əl/ adjective

1. (of sewage constituents, packaging material, etc) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other biological means

ˌbiodeˌgradaˈbility noun