preservative

[pri-zur-vuh-tiv]

noun

1. something that preserves or tends to preserve.

2. a chemical substance used to preserve foods or other organic materials from decomposition or fermentation.

adjective

1. tending to preserve.

preservative

/ prɪˈzɜːvətɪv /

noun

1. something that preserves or tends to preserve, esp a chemical added to foods to inhibit decomposition

adjective

1. tending or intended to preserve

Other Word Forms

• nonpreservative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of preservative¹

1350–1400; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Middle French preservatif (adj.) < Medieval Latin praeservātīvus. See preserve, -ative

Example Sentences

Ultra-processed foods are defined as containing more than five ingredients which you would not find at home in your kitchen cupboard, such as emulsifiers, preservatives, additives, dyes and sweeteners.

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Sky Candle’s hand-poured products are made without additives or preservatives, using soybeans grown in the United States.

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Besides their saturated fat content, they often contain a lot of sodium, which can raise blood pressure, and certain preservatives that are linked to colon cancer.

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Walmart also plans to eliminate 30 other ingredients, ranging from certain artificial sweeteners to preservatives.

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She says there are some "legitimate costs" that come with processing a body - like spending on transport, and preservative chemicals.

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Related Words

• vinegar