spoilage

noun

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spoil·age | \ ˈspȯi-lij

Definition of spoilage

1 : the act or process of spoiling especially : the process of decay in foodstuffs

2 : something spoiled or wasted

3 : loss by spoilage

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about spoilage

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Examples of spoilage in a Sentence

The milk should be refrigerated to prevent spoilage. in the days before refrigeration, spoilage was a constant problem

Recent Examples on the Web In addition, its gross margin improved by approximately 0.5 percentage points, driven by the tailwinds of higher labor productivity and lower spoilage for fresh foods (due to higher sales). — Trefis Team, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2021 Check each package, and discard if there are signs of spoilage such as an off color or off odor. — Kathy Stephenson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Sep. 2020 Drinking animal milk — a practice as old as animal domestication itself — has always presented health risks, from spoilage or by way of infections passed down from the animal. — New York Times, 27 Apr. 2021 This will keep your butter spreadable for weeks without refrigeration or spoilage. — Chris Hachey, BGR, 9 Apr. 2021 Plenty of ingredients that are susceptible to spoilage or diminishing returns come in amounts that are hard to use quickly. — Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2021 The data covers vaccinators who receive their allocation from the state, and are required to report waste or spoilage data, the state health department said. — Scott Bauer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2021 Aside from potentially higher prices, climate change may worsen food shortages caused by spoilage. — John Flesher, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2021 Those certified in a first level certification of the program are required to have a solid knowledge of beer service and how to prevent beer spoilage. — al, 22 Mar. 2021

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