perishable
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Usage
What does perishable mean? Perishable is used to describe an item, usually food, that typically spoils within a relatively short amount of time, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products. Such items are often simply called perishables. (When used as a noun, the term is most commonly plural.)The term is often contrasted with nonperishables—food items that can be stored for a long time without spoiling, like dried grains, beans, and pasta. Perishable foods need to be specially stored (like in a refrigerator) or eaten relatively quickly. Nonperishables, on the other hand, are things that will last a long time without refrigeration or other special storage. Example: Let’s try to eat all the perishables before we go on vacation—we don’t want to come back to spoiled milk and rotting tomatoes.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of perishable
Explanation
Something perishable is likely to die or decay. A perishable is also a type of food with a limited shelf life if it's not refrigerated. Since perishing is dying, anything perishable could die or is likely to die. Unfortunately, people are perishable and most things in the world are too. Nothing lasts forever. A perishable is also a type of food that will go bad quickly if you leave it out of the fridge. Milk is a perishable, and so are yogurt and ice cream. Whether you're talking about a perishable or something perishable, this word refers to something that just won't last.
Vocabulary lists containing perishable
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 10
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -able, -ible
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The Dead and the Gone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The post-Civil War expansion of railroads opened new markets, enabling Virginia farms to ship perishable milk to the District of Columbia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
I gather my cleaning supplies in advance and fill a cooler with ice to hold anything perishable while I work through the fridge and freezer.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026
Some contracts do indeed provide compensation in the event they get stuck due to a conflict, particularly for perishable cargoes.
From Barron's ● Mar. 2, 2026
Last year, it began making same-day deliveries of perishable goods — a service it plans to expand this year, escalating the threat to delivery apps and other retailers.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 27, 2026
He invested heavily in a company that bought perishable foods and shipped them in the latest refrigerated cars to far-off cities.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
