Eco-Friendly: Definition, Examples, and Usage Tips

Meaning 1：Environmentally safe (eco-friendly)

eco-friendly 🔊

/ˌiːkoʊ ˈfrendli/

adj.

Not harmful to the environment; good for nature.

Eco-friendly reusable bag with fresh produce in a sunny park

Environmentally safe 🔊

➕

/ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmɛntəli seɪf/

adj.

Describes something that does not harm the natural environment and is designed to be sustainable or reduce pollution.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combines 'eco-' (from Greek 'oikos' meaning 'house' or 'environment') and 'friendly' meaning 'not harmful'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'Eco' as 'Ecology' + 'friendly' as 'kind to Earth' – like a polite neighbor who never litters.

📖 Example

My school encourages students to use eco-friendly notebooks made from recycled paper. 🔊 My school encourages students to use eco-friendly notebooks made from recycled paper.

🔗 Collocations

eco-friendly products – Goods designed to cause minimal environmental damage

eco-friendly packaging – Materials that are biodegradable or recyclable

eco-friendly lifestyle – A way of living that reduces one's ecological footprint

🔄 Synonyms

green (adj.) – Environmentally conscious; supporting ecological balance

sustainable (adj.) – Capable of being maintained without depleting natural resources

environmentally friendly (adj.) – Same meaning as eco-friendly, often used interchangeably

🚫 Antonyms

harmful (adj.) – Causing damage or injury to the environment

polluting (adj.) – Releasing harmful substances into air, water, or soil

unsustainable (adj.) – Not able to continue without depleting resources

🌱 Derivatives

eco-friendliness (n.) – The quality of being environmentally safe

📖 Cultural Story

Popularized in the 1970s environmental movement, it became a standard marketing term for products that reduce harm to nature, from recycling to renewable energy.