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

Meanwhile, your executor could work with the landlord to arrange access to care for pets or plants, empty the fridge to prevent food spoilage, and so forth.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

The first group includes non-antioxidant preservatives, which slow spoilage by limiting microbial growth or slowing chemical reactions in food.

From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2026

It was an effort to get rid of her bountiful supply of courgettes before they succumbed to spoilage.

From Salon • Jun. 14, 2025

She added that perishable crops, including strawberries, lettuce, and dairy, face immediate peril because “trade disruptions can mean spoilage, financial losses and long-term lost market share that was earned over decades.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2025

First problem: how to preserve fresh meat dressed in Chicago so that it could be shipped without spoilage to customers in faraway cities and towns.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield