spoilage

American  

[spoi-lij] / ˈspɔɪ lɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act of spoiling or the state of being spoiled.

2. material or the amount of material that is spoiled or wasted.

   The spoilage in today's shipment is much too great.

3. the decay of foodstuffs due to the action of bacteria; rotting.

   He was concerned about the spoilage of fruit on the way to market.

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spoilage British  

/ ˈspɔɪlɪdʒ /

noun

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

2. an amount of material that has been wasted by being spoilt

   the spoilage of corn was considerable

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Etymology

Origin of spoilage

First recorded in 1590–1600; spoil + -age

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, your executor could work with the landlord to arrange access to care for pets or plants, empty the fridge to prevent food spoilage, and so forth.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

She added that perishable crops, including strawberries, lettuce, and dairy, face immediate peril because “trade disruptions can mean spoilage, financial losses and long-term lost market share that was earned over decades.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2025

Basically, the idea was to explore how LAB could be used to colonize a food environment in order to prevent the outgrowth of spoilage or pathogenic bacteria.

From Slate • Feb. 22, 2025

Fermentation, which is the basis of soy sauce production, is a technology that controls spoilage.

From Salon • Sep. 10, 2024

The fresh towels ready for spoilage, the wastebaskets gaping their invitations, beckoning in the careless junk.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood