noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of preservative
1350–1400; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Middle French preservatif (adj.) < Medieval Latin praeservātīvus. See preserve, -ative
Explanation
Anything that's preservative keeps things alive, healthy, or fresh. Some cooks swear by the preservative powers of lemon juice, which can keep fruit tasting fresh and save avocado slices from turning brown. Use preservative as an adjective — or a noun, for a chemical or other substance that keeps something from dying or breaking down. Food preservatives are sometimes added to make edible things last longer, and to items like medication and cosmetics, so they don't decay before you've finished using them. Preservative followed the verb preserve, which in the fourteenth century meant "to keep something safe."
Vocabulary lists containing preservative
Novel Study: Fahrenheit 451, Part I
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The Million Dollar Shot
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"Allegedly" by Tiffany D. Jackson, Chapters 2–4
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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.
See Examples For:
In 1941, the company purchased distilling facilities in Virginia and Lyons, N.Y., to increase production, then during the war it made pectin, a vital preservative used in military food rations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026
Each of these samples was split into two, with boric acid added to one set to test whether the preservative would affect results.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 31, 2026
Both shoppers say they prefer to buy foods that are preservative free when possible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2026
Overall preservative consumption was linked to a 47% higher risk.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2026
He suggested that she increase the proportion of preservative that she used.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Rivelino Rodriguez, chef lecturer at The Guernsey Institute, said the project was designed to give parents "inspiration for cheap adaptable meals that taste good without all the additives and preservatives found in ready-made foods".
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
A massive study suggests that some common food preservatives may be putting heart health at risk.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026
Researchers also examined 17 of the most commonly consumed preservatives individually.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026
Yes, the cake is meant to taste like a childhood birthday party — so sweet it makes your teeth ring and artificial, loaded with all kinds of preservatives we can’t quite pronounce.
From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2026
‘You kidding? So many preservatives in these things, I’ll live forever. But, hey, about this victory goddess being popular and great - Don’t you guys remember what her kids are like at Camp Half-Blood?’
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
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.
