spoilage

[spoi-lij]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spoilage ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of spoiling or the state of being spoiled.

material or the amount of material that is spoiled or wasted: The spoilage in today's shipment is much too great.

the decay of foodstuffs due to the action of bacteria; rotting: He was concerned about the spoilage of fruit on the way to market.

Origin of spoilage

First recorded in 1590–1600; spoil + -age

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for spoilage

ruination, dilapidation, downfall, putrefaction, dissolution, adulteration, decrease, putrescence, mortification, disintegration, fading, decadence, decline, extinction, senescence, consumption, rot, ruin, decomposition, blight

Examples from the Web for spoilage

Contemporary Examples of spoilage

It will also hide unwanted vegetal flavors and even mask certain types of spoilage.
The Great Wine Cover-up
Keith Wallace
August 18, 2009

Historical Examples of spoilage

They were usually present during warm weather when spoilage was worst.
The Bounty of the Chesapeake
James Wharton
Besides this increase in production there is the decrease in spoilage.
Artificial Light
M. Luckiesh
Spoilage of products is nearly always due to carelessness in one of these steps.
A Little Preserving Book for a Little Girl
Amy Waterman
Now in connection with the spoilage and rotting that is another matter.
Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Forty-Second Annual Meeting
Northern Nut Growers Association
Anything that came in cans or packages that seemed safe from spoilage was carefully stowed away in the cave.
Ticktock and Jim
Keith Robertson

British Dictionary definitions for spoilage

spoilage

noun

the act or an instance of spoiling or the state or condition of being spoilt

an amount of material that has been wasted by being spoiltthe spoilage of corn was considerable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012