perishable

adjective

per·​ish·​able ˈper-i-shə-bəl How to pronounce perishable (audio)
ˈpe-ri-
: liable to perish : liable to spoil or decay
such perishable products as fruit, vegetables, butter, and eggs
perishability noun
perishable noun

Examples of perishable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Food service deals with highly perishable goods, fluctuating demand and tight delivery windows, which demands real-time adaptability and predictive analytics to minimize waste and ensure freshness. Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025 Try to avoid easily perishable foods and anything overly pungent (like tuna or overripe bananas). Jessie Beck, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025 In 2025, Meal Packs will be held in 24 cities, mobilizing more than 31,000 volunteers who will join together to pack more than 9,500,000 nutritious, non-perishable meals for Americans at risk of hunger in those communities. Matt Stone, Boston Herald, 12 Sep. 2025 There will also be specialty stores selling prepared perishable food items to-go, such as sandwiches, salads, yogurt and fruit. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perishable

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perishable was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Perishable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perishable. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

perishable

adjective
per·​ish·​able ˈper-ish-ə-bəl How to pronounce perishable (audio)
: likely to spoil or decay
perishable fruit
perishable noun

More from Merriam-Webster on perishable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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