preservative

American  

[pri-zur-vuh-tiv] / prɪˈzɜr və tɪv /

noun

preservatives plural

1. something that preserves or tends to preserve.

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

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adjective

1. tending to preserve.

preservative British  

/ prɪˈzɜːvətɪv /

noun

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

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adjective

1. tending or intended to preserve

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpreservative
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• preservatives
  plural

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preservative preservatives

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

Costco’s famed $4.99 rotisserie chicken is under fire in a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that the big box warehouse falsely advertised that its birds were preservative free.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2026

Their goal was to determine whether exposure to specific preservative food additives was associated with cancer risk in adults.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 27, 2026

More than 700,000 of those products contained at least one preservative.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 9, 2026

The cant of the ship made for hard pushing, but under their combined effort, the spool slowly rumbled forward, crunching over blistered preservative paint and loosened metal deck plates.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

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

Antioxidant preservatives serve a different purpose, helping to prevent oxidation so foods do not become brown or rancid.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026

The big-box warehouse club also said it removed “statements concerning preservatives from the signs and on-line presentations” in an effort to “maintain consistency.”

From Salon ● Jun. 17, 2026

However, the study also identifies potential health concerns, particularly with bottled and bubble teas, which may contain harmful additives like artificial sweeteners and preservatives.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026

He packed the trays, bottles, glass plates, preservatives, rubber boots and a blanket into the back of his car.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• vinegar