preservative

adjective pre·ser·va·tive \ pri-ˈzər-və-tiv \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of preservative

: having the power of preserving

Recent Examples of preservative from the Web

For bogs, the acidity has remarkable preservative effects—think bog bodies—and keeps the environment limited to highly specialized species that can tolerate such harsh environments.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "How Humble Moss Healed the Wounds of Thousands in World War I," 28 Apr. 2017
For cut flowers: Fill a clean vase halfway with lukewarm water, and mix in half or the entire preservative bag that comes with your flowers.

— betty cahill, The Denver Post, "Punch List: What to do outdoors in your garden in February, plus tips on seeds," 3 Feb. 2017
Reliably clean water wouldn't arrive until 1842’s opening of the Croton Aqueduct, and thanks to its boiling process and the preservative nature of hops, beer was safer to drink than water until then.

— keith flanagan, USA TODAY, "New York City's beer trail," 27 Apr. 2017
For bogs, the acidity has remarkable preservative effects—think bog bodies—and keeps the environment limited to highly specialized species that can tolerate such harsh environments.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "How Humble Moss Healed the Wounds of Thousands in World War I," 28 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'preservative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of preservative

14th century

preservative

noun

Definition of preservative

: something that preserves or has the power of preserving; specifically : an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage

See preservative defined for English-language learners

Examples of preservative in a Sentence

This food does not contain any artificial preservatives.
The wood was treated with preservative.

Recent Examples of preservative from the Web

Pepperidge Farm 15 Grain Whole Grain is a decent bet for a seedy grainy bread - and available at nearly all regular grocery stores - but its ingredient list does have added preservatives to keep it fresher, longer.

— molly kimball, NOLA.com, "Build a better (for you) grilled cheese with gluten-free, vegan recipe, too," 10 Apr. 2018
Both of the Kahn restaurants use ingredients that are sourced sustainably and organically and free of GMOs and preservatives.

— susan selasky, Detroit Free Press, "GreenSpace & Go vegan eatery opens Monday in Royal Oak," 5 Apr. 2018
The smooth, creamy coconut and mandarin sweetness is reminiscent of your favorite childhood popsicles--only without the preservatives or extra sugar.

— tara massouleh, AL.com, "Put these colorful acai bowls on your food bucket list," 4 Apr. 2018
For nearly a decade, his experiments, along with those of colleagues, have pointed to prehistoric use of the material not just as a sunscreen and adhesive but also an insect repellent and leather preservative.

— gemma tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Pigment of Our Imagination," 23 Mar. 2018
Most of these gums and other ingredients are common thickening and stabilizing agents and preservatives.

— ali rosen, Bon Appetit, "Why Is There Dicalcium Phosphate In My Breakfast Sandwich?," 1 Mar. 2018
Kearney gives customers a pure, sweet taste of chocolate because there are no additives or preservatives.

— patricia dillon, Houston Chronicle, "Inside Look: local chocolate business prepares for Valentine's Day," 7 Feb. 2018
The smooth, creamy coconut and mandarin sweetness is reminiscent of your favorite childhood popsicles--only without the preservatives or extra sugar.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "Kid-friendly orange chicken and orange creamsicle recipes," 30 Mar. 2018
Added for flavor and aroma, hops were originally used as a preservative, helping the brew last longer.

— julissa treviño, Smithsonian, "Scientists Brew a Hoppy Beer Without the Hops," 21 Mar. 2018