fossil fuels

NOUN

fuel derived from prehistoric organisms

Synonyms

WEAK

hydrocarbon deposit nonrenewable energy nonrenewable fuel source

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.

Exxon prides itself on its ability to find and extract fossil fuels hidden deep in the earth’s crevices.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

According to the study, dependence on fossil fuels has temporarily hidden the effects of ecological overshoot by supporting food production, industrial growth, and energy supplies.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

These record-smashing heatwaves have come in a world about 1.4C warmer on average than during the late 19th Century, because of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Dombrovskis said the EU had to learn from the shocks by "further reducing its reliance on imported fossil fuels".

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

“And it’s all because of climate change. Burning fossil fuels puts carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which traps the earth’s heat.”

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz