preservative

[pri-zur-vuh-tiv]

noun

1. something that preserves or tends to preserve.

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

adjective

1. tending to preserve.

preservative

/ prɪˈzɜːvətɪv /

noun

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

adjective

1. tending or intended to preserve

Other Word Forms

• nonpreservative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of preservative¹

1350–1400; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Middle French preservatif (adj.) < Medieval Latin praeservātīvus. See preserve, -ative

Example Sentences

She says there are some "legitimate costs" that come with processing a body - like spending on transport, and preservative chemicals.

From BBC

They’re industrially processed, built with emulsifiers, stabilizers and preservatives you couldn’t buy at a supermarket, let alone cook with at home.

From Salon

“There’s nothing artificial. No preservatives. Even the corn is non-GMO. Just simple, fresh and produced daily.”

From Los Angeles Times

The new panel made its first decision last week, voting to stop recommending a small number of flu vaccines that still contain the preservative thimerosal, something Kennedy wrote a book about in 2015.

From BBC

On Thursday, at its first meeting, his newly reconstituted council voted to ban the preservative thimerosal from the few remaining vaccines that contain it, despite many studies showing that thimerosal is safe.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• vinegar