refrigerator
Americannoun
-
a box, room, or cabinet in which food, drink, etc., are kept cool by means of ice or mechanical refrigeration.
-
the part of a distilling apparatus that cools the volatile material, causing it to condense; condenser; rectifier.
noun
Etymology
Origin of refrigerator
First recorded in 1605–15; refrigerate + -or 2
Explanation
A refrigerator is a kitchen appliance where you can store your perishable food at a cool temperature. You should store your milk and meat in the refrigerator to keep them from spoiling. The term refrigerator is often shortened to fridge, and because of this, people often mistakenly try to spell refrigerator with a d. Refrigerators come in all sizes, from a small cube that is often used in college dorm rooms by students trying to keep a six-pack of soda cool, to a huge walk-in refrigerator that might be used at a restaurant to cool all the ingredients for the week's meals.
Vocabulary lists containing refrigerator
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 9
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
For example, a refrigerator purchased for fresh fruits and vegetables can easily be repurposed to hold bottles of soda.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
The second stop is the surplus meat section, tucked in an unassuming refrigerator beside the butcher counter.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
“The main residence has brand-new Wolf appliances, including an induction range, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Custom new white oak hardwood flooring throughout is the canvas for your personal design statement,” the listing notes.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026
In the 1930s, Freon made the domestic refrigerator a staple of the American middle-class kitchen.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
My collection bags filled with red-rimmed leaves, the ground cover, and even the huge leaf samples hang on a rod in a glass refrigerator.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
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.
