spoilage

American  

[spoi-lij] / ˈspɔɪ lɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act of spoiling or the state of being spoiled.

2. material or the amount of material that is spoiled or wasted.

   The spoilage in today's shipment is much too great.

3. the decay of foodstuffs due to the action of bacteria; rotting.

   He was concerned about the spoilage of fruit on the way to market.

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spoilage British  

/ ˈspɔɪlɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act or an instance of spoiling or the state or condition of being spoilt

2. an amount of material that has been wasted by being spoilt

   the spoilage of corn was considerable

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Etymology

Origin of spoilage

First recorded in 1590–1600; spoil + -age

Example Sentences

Spoilage was a problem, however, so the first popular brand, Peter Pan, was introduced by Swift Packing Co. in 1928.

From Time Magazine Archive

Spoilage is due to imperfect jars, imperfect rubbers, imperfect sealing of tin cans, careless blanching, insufficient cold dipping or poor sterilizing.

From Every Step in Canning by Gray, Grace Viall

Spoilage destroyed some food, and, with the coming of the hot, humid weather, the brackish drinking water proved dangerous.

From The First Seventeen Years: Virginia 1607-1624 by Hatch, Charles E.