decarbonize

verb

de·​car·​bon·​ize (ˌ)dē-ˈkär-bə-ˌnīz How to pronounce decarbonize (audio)
decarbonized; decarbonizing; decarbonizes

transitive verb

1
: to remove carbon from (something)
It's usually not necessary to dismantle the engine to decarbonize it anymore.Allen D. Berrien
2
: to reduce the levels of carbon emissions (such as carbon dioxide) caused by or involved in (something, such as a facility, process, or organization)
… we must decarbonize the energy supply by developing forms of power that emit less greenhouse gas or none at all.Daniel Ben-Ami
[Steve] Cohen is confident that we will be able to decarbonize our economy in time to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.Renee Cho

intransitive verb

: to reduce the production of carbon emissions
Certainly, people at Airbus say they need to decarbonize, and research on battery technology for electric planes has been disappointing.Ned Potter
decarbonizer noun

Examples of decarbonize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In our interview, Bárcena tells me the company, one of the world's biggest emitting firms, would also focus on decarbonizing its operations. Justin Worland / Mexico City, TIME, 19 Oct. 2024 Verne, a hydrogen fuel system developer once focused on decarbonizing the trucking industry, received a $248,000 contract in May to adapt its system for the Army to produce fuel in the field. Alan Neuhauser, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024 However, decarbonizing mining presents unique challenges, including high energy consumption and operating in remote, harsh environments. Marianne Lehnis, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 In addition, some experts suggest that electric power, a significantly cheaper alternative to synthetic fuels, would be a much more efficient way of decarbonizing the sport than synthetic fuel. Sam Joseph, CNN, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for decarbonize 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decarbonize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of decarbonize was in 1821

Dictionary Entries Near decarbonize

Cite this Entry

“Decarbonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decarbonize. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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