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

See Examples For:

spoilage

Products must turn faster through a central warehouse, and there is a greater risk that spoilage or production hiccups result in unfilled orders, executives and employees said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Non-antioxidants inhibit microbial growth or slow chemical reactions that cause spoilage.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 27, 2026

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

If a gift idea immediately fills you with dread about schedules, storage, or spoilage, consider that useful information.

From Salon ● Dec. 23, 2025

This year, the strange, lingering winter, combined with the unexpected spoilage of much of the Kingdom’s food stores, had led to growing panic among the people.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo