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

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

Etymology

Origin of perishable

First recorded in 1605–15; perish + -able

Example Sentences

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

Think small, perishable, and plausibly ironic like a single excellent chocolate bar, a slim paperback with a clever premise, or a novelty that suggests taste rather than effort.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 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

Fox also confirmed that perishable food due to be used at the Boxing Day Test will be donated to a local charity.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

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