Biodegradable
/ˌbaɪ.oʊ.dɪˈɡreɪ.də.bəl/noun
Able to be broken down naturally by living organisms.
Did you know?Biodegradable is a modern scientific compound built from Greek and Latin roots, and its power is practical rather than occult: it names materials that microorganisms can chemically dismantle into simpler substances.
Etymological Timeline
Greek (Classical)
Greek
bios
“life”
Latin
Latin
gradus
“a step, pace, or degree”
17th–18th Century
English
degrade
“to reduce in rank, status, or quality”
19th Century
English
biology
“the study of life”
20th Century
English
biodegradable
“capable of being decomposed by living organisms”