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

Etymology

Origin of preservative

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

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

Within the first two years of the study, 99.5% had consumed at least one food preservative.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026

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

Costco’s famed $4.99 rotisserie chicken is under fire in a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that the big box warehouse falsely advertised that its birds were preservative free.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2026

Possible steps include stricter limits on preservative use, clearer labeling, mandatory disclosure of additive content, and international monitoring efforts similar to those used for trans fatty acids and sodium.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 27, 2026

Entomology smells like mothballs and oil: a preservative that, Dr. Geffard explains, is called naphthalene.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Rivelino Rodriguez, chef lecturer at The Guernsey Institute, said the project was designed to give parents "inspiration for cheap adaptable meals that taste good without all the additives and preservatives found in ready-made foods".

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Food preservatives are widely used in industrially processed foods to extend shelf life and maintain product quality.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026

The analysis found that participants who consumed the highest amounts of non-antioxidant preservatives had a 29% greater risk of hypertension compared with those who consumed the least.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026

“Many consumers prefer products advertised as free of preservatives and reasonably rely on prominent front-of-label and point-of-sale representations when making purchase decisions,” the plaintiffs argued.

From Salon ● Jun. 17, 2026

She’d never be able to eat Doritos again, not after what she’d read about preservatives and food dyes when she was pregnant with Peach.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

Related Words

• vinegar