perishable

American  

[per-i-shuh-buhl] / ˈpɛr ɪ ʃə bəl /

adjective

1. subject to decay, ruin, or destruction.

   perishable fruits and vegetables.

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noun

1. Usually perishables. something perishable, especially food.

perishable British  

/ ˈpɛrɪʃəbəl /

adjective

1. liable to rot or wither

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noun

1. (often plural) a perishable article, esp food

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

Derived Forms

• unperishable
  adjective
• perishably
  adverb
• perishability
  noun
• perishableness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of perishable

First recorded in 1605–15; perish + -able

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.

Example Sentences

I always look at the clock when I'm at a buffet as there is a two-hour catering rule: Perishable food will become unsafe to eat within two hours if not kept covered and refrigerated.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2023

Perishable food — meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers — held at temperatures higher than 40 degrees for more than two hours should be discarded, according to the USDA.

From Washington Post • Dec. 5, 2022

Perishable items like cookies and brownies are not available.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 21, 2022

Initially, the new system collapsed: Perishable goods got stuck at ports, retailers discovered their supply chains were obsolete and trucking companies stopped delivering to the whole island of Ireland.

From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2021

Across the top of the small pasteboard box, "Perishable" was scrawled.

From Otherwise Phyllis by Gibson, Charles Dana