: something that preserves or has the power of preserving
specifically
: an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage
Examples of preservative in a Sentence
Noun
This food does not contain any artificial preservatives.
The wood was treated with preservative.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 26 Mar. 2024
That’s largely due to the preservative properties of salt, which is abundant in the mine.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023
Salt acts as a preservative, so salted butter has a longer shelf life, no matter where it's stored, than unsalted.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2023
Salt, or sodium chloride, is an essential mineral used as a seasoning, preservative and chemical, providing for billions of consumers around the globe.
—USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2023
On Tuesday, Biden announced a new national monument in the area, designated to protect the space from uranium mining and extend preservative measures that were set to expire in 2032.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2023
As a humectant, emollient, and preservative, propylene glycol holds moisture while preventing mold in certain medicines, cosmetics, and foods.
—Tolu Ajiboye, Verywell Health, 2 July 2023
According to the center, the extraction vials in many rapid antigen kits – including BinaxNow, BD Veritor, Flowflex, and Celltrion DiaTrust – use the chemical sodium azide as a preservative agent.
—Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 23 Feb. 2022
The court concluded that because Ms. Simeone was claiming not that the defendant's labeling was insufficient (and thus a different or additional label was needed), but was misleading because of the citric acid's preservative effect, her lawsuit does not conflict with the FDCA.
—Glenn G. Lammi, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023
Isabel Vasquez, Rd, Ldn, Parents, 4 Apr. 2024
To me, sustainability means providing the customer with the ultimate organic coffee experience — without the pesticides or preservatives used in other brands — while employing the local residents of Guatemala.
—Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
And avoid powders with fillers, additives, and preservatives, Johnson adds.
—Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2024
When mercury is present in vaccines, it is found in thimerosal, a preservative used in multi-dose vials to prevent bacteria and fungi growth.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024
Research has also found that food additives and preservatives, originally created to improve mass production and increase shelf-life, are also linked with increasing rates of obesity and chronic disease.
—Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Nature Made Folic Acid is also gluten-free and doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
—Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 22 Mar. 2024
Many include emulsifiers, preservatives and thickeners such as tapioca.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024
It was used anciently as a preservative, a seasoning, and medicinally for its antibacterial properties.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024
Adjective
That’s because more expensive soy sauces typically lack the preservative, sodium benzoate, that more common grocery-store soy sauces use to extend shelf life.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 26 Mar. 2024
That’s largely due to the preservative properties of salt, which is abundant in the mine.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023
Salt acts as a preservative, so salted butter has a longer shelf life, no matter where it's stored, than unsalted.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2023
Salt, or sodium chloride, is an essential mineral used as a seasoning, preservative and chemical, providing for billions of consumers around the globe.
—USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2023
On Tuesday, Biden announced a new national monument in the area, designated to protect the space from uranium mining and extend preservative measures that were set to expire in 2032.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2023
As a humectant, emollient, and preservative, propylene glycol holds moisture while preventing mold in certain medicines, cosmetics, and foods.
—Tolu Ajiboye, Verywell Health, 2 July 2023
According to the center, the extraction vials in many rapid antigen kits – including BinaxNow, BD Veritor, Flowflex, and Celltrion DiaTrust – use the chemical sodium azide as a preservative agent.
—Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 23 Feb. 2022
The court concluded that because Ms. Simeone was claiming not that the defendant's labeling was insufficient (and thus a different or additional label was needed), but was misleading because of the citric acid's preservative effect, her lawsuit does not conflict with the FDCA.
—Glenn G. Lammi, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023
Noun
Carlson Kid’s Norwegian Fish Oil is also free of artificial preservatives.
—Isabel Vasquez, Rd, Ldn, Parents, 4 Apr. 2024
To me, sustainability means providing the customer with the ultimate organic coffee experience — without the pesticides or preservatives used in other brands — while employing the local residents of Guatemala.
—Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
And avoid powders with fillers, additives, and preservatives, Johnson adds.
—Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2024
When mercury is present in vaccines, it is found in thimerosal, a preservative used in multi-dose vials to prevent bacteria and fungi growth.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024
Research has also found that food additives and preservatives, originally created to improve mass production and increase shelf-life, are also linked with increasing rates of obesity and chronic disease.
—Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Nature Made Folic Acid is also gluten-free and doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
—Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 22 Mar. 2024
Many include emulsifiers, preservatives and thickeners such as tapioca.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024
It was used anciently as a preservative, a seasoning, and medicinally for its antibacterial properties.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preservative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near preservative
Cite this Entry
“Preservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preservative. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preservative
1 of 2 adjective
pre·ser·va·tive
pri-ˈzər-vət-iv 
: having the power of preserving
preservative
2 of 2 noun
: something that preserves or has the power of preserving
especially
: a substance added to food to prevent spoiling or discoloring
Medical Definition
preservative
noun
pre·ser·va·tive
pri-ˈzər-vət-iv
: something that preserves or has the power of preserving
specifically
: an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage
a food preservative
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