preservative

American  

[pri-zur-vuh-tiv] / prɪˈzɜr və tɪv /

noun

• preservatives
  plural

1. something that preserves or tends to preserve.

2. a chemical substance used to preserve foods or other organic materials from decomposition or fermentation.

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adjective

1. tending to preserve.

preservative British  

/ prɪˈzɜːvətɪv /

noun

1. something that preserves or tends to preserve, esp a chemical added to foods to inhibit decomposition

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adjective

1. tending or intended to preserve

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpreservative
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• preservatives
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of preservative

1350–1400; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Middle French preservatif (adj.) < Medieval Latin praeservātīvus. See preserve, -ative

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Explanation

Anything that's preservative keeps things alive, healthy, or fresh. Some cooks swear by the preservative powers of lemon juice, which can keep fruit tasting fresh and save avocado slices from turning brown. Use preservative as an adjective — or a noun, for a chemical or other substance that keeps something from dying or breaking down. Food preservatives are sometimes added to make edible things last longer, and to items like medication and cosmetics, so they don't decay before you've finished using them. Preservative followed the verb preserve, which in the fourteenth century meant "to keep something safe."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preservative preservatives

In 1941, the company purchased distilling facilities in Virginia and Lyons, N.Y., to increase production, then during the war it made pectin, a vital preservative used in military food rations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026

Each of these samples was split into two, with boric acid added to one set to test whether the preservative would affect results.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 31, 2026

Both shoppers say they prefer to buy foods that are preservative free when possible.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2026

More than 700,000 of those products contained at least one preservative.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2026

A white snake in a jar of preservative stared blindly down at them.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Samuel Allsopp did something hitherto unknown, he upped the alcohol and hop content which both act as preservatives.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

Foods “cross into ultra-processed territory when they contain preservatives, flavorings and other food additives, or substances ... to enhance flavor and increase shelf life.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

Researchers are also investigating whether preservatives could influence pancreatic function.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

The research was observational, meaning it identified statistical associations rather than proving that preservatives were directly responsible for the increased risks.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Made without salt, spices, leavening, or preservatives, masa must be cooked within a few hours of being ground, and the tortilla should be eaten soon after it is cooked.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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