: 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
Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Originally, apple cider vinegar was mainly used as a food preservative and natural remedy for specific ailments.5
Apple cider vinegar is still used in culinary to this day, acting as a flavor enhancer in salad dressings and sauces.
—Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 24 Feb. 2025
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2025
The tricky thing is, those particular chemicals aren’t always easy to parse from the preservatives used simply to extend shelf life or block the growth of microbes, Dr. Vadiveloo says.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preservative
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Adjective
The back of the device houses everything needed to create the foundation, including the preservative system, emulsions and pigments.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Originally, apple cider vinegar was mainly used as a food preservative and natural remedy for specific ailments.5
Apple cider vinegar is still used in culinary to this day, acting as a flavor enhancer in salad dressings and sauces.
—Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
Salmonella lives in the egg white, and natural preservatives in egg whites will stop the bacteria from multiplying, explains Donald Schaffner, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of food microbiology and extension specialist at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2025
The tricky thing is, those particular chemicals aren’t always easy to parse from the preservatives used simply to extend shelf life or block the growth of microbes, Dr. Vadiveloo says.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preservative
Cite this Entry
“Preservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preservative. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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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