net-zero

adjective

net-ze·​ro ˈnet-ˈzē-(ˌ)rō How to pronounce net-zero (audio)
-ˈzir-(ˌ)ō
: resulting in neither a surplus nor a deficit of something specified when gains and losses are added together
net-zero carbon emissions
The General Services Administration has sealed an unusual deal to guarantee achievement of net-zero energy consumption in a federal facility …Charles S. Clark
especially, of buildings : producing enough energy (as through solar panels or passive heating) to offset any energy consumed
By 2020 all new homes built in California will have to be net-zero buildings that produce enough power to offset all their energy needs … K. Kaufmann
Another affordable, net-zero house is under construction in North Minneapolis, and a third is in development at the school. John Cary

Examples of net-zero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Achieving net-zero, or the reduction or off-setting of greenhouse gasses to as close to zero as possible, by 2050 will cost nearly $300 trillion (about 7.5 percent of global GDP annually, on average), according to research by the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. Alan Schwarz, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 All three financial institutions listed have a 5-star rating: Swedbank, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) and Svenska Handelsbanken. Swedbank's ambition is to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, aligning its lending and investment portfolios with the 1.5-degree target. Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025 The company has made a commitment to sustainability, working with partners such as Andritz to improve circularity and achieve a net-zero climate impact. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 23 May 2025 The law requires all new vehicles sold in the state be zero emissions by 2035 in order to meet the state’s 2050 net-zero carbon emissions goal. Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for net-zero

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of net-zero was in 1936

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Cite this Entry

“Net-zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/net-zero. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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