preservative

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

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
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

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 pre·ser·va·tive

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

Avoid fish that appears slimy or has a sheen that may indicate age or the use of preservatives.

— debbie moose, sacbee.com, "Learn how to make a popular Hawaiian specialty at home", 27 June 2017
Avoid fish that appears slimy or has a sheen that may indicate age or the use of preservatives.

— debbie moose, charlotteobserver, "As poké bowl joints grow, learn how to make the Hawaiian specialty at home", 27 June 2017
BUY NOW Renewing Cream, SKINFIX, $20 4. Parabens These preservatives are used to prevent the growth of bacteria in everything from masks to mascara.

— lauren balsamo, Cosmopolitan, "What You Need to Know About These 5 Controversial Beauty Ingredients", 22 June 2017
Avoid fish that appears slimy or has a sheen that may indicate age or the use of preservatives.

— debbie moose, Philly.com, "Make your own poke bowl", 22 June 2017
In May, the company removed artificial flavors, colors or preservatives from its vanilla ice cream and whipped topping.

— doreen christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Try McDonald's new soft-serve dessert sundaes for free on Wednesday", 21 June 2017
Used as a bittering agent and preservative, hops are now bred and cultivated to contribute a myriad of flavors at various stages of the brewing process.

— spike carter, Bloomberg.com, "Beer Brewed With Flowers? It’s Totally Crushable, Bro", 9 June 2017
An organ first gets taken out of the donor and flushed with a cold salt solution (that includes preservatives to help keep the organ viable for transplant).

— NBC News, "'Beating Heart in a Box' Promises Major Revolution in Medical Care", 9 June 2017
Mushyface treats are all-natural and do not contain preservatives, Larsen said.

— jennifer johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Park Ridge Farmers Market traditions return for another season", 7 June 2017

First Known Use of preservative

15th century

PRESERVATIVE Defined for English Language Learners

preservative

noun

Definition of preservative for English Language Learners

: a chemical that is added to food to keep it fresh longer
: a substance that is used on wood to prevent it from decaying

PRESERVATIVE Defined for Kids

preservative

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noun pre·ser·va·tive \pri-ˈzər-vət-iv\

Definition of preservative for Students

: a substance added to food to keep it from spoiling

Medical Dictionary

preservative

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noun pre·ser·va·tive \pri-ˈzər-vət-iv\

Medical Definition of preservative

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