perishable

[ per-i-shuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. subject to decay, ruin, or destruction:

   perishable fruits and vegetables.

noun

1. Usually perishables. something perishable, especially food.

perishable

/ ˈpɛrɪʃəbəl /

adjective

1. liable to rot or wither

noun

1. often plural a perishable article, esp food

Derived Forms

• ˈperishably, adverb
• ˌperishaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• perish·a·bili·ty perish·a·ble·ness noun
• perish·a·bly adverb
• un·perish·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perishable¹

First recorded in 1605–15; perish + -able

Example Sentences

Local supermarkets and businesses donate fresh food, keeping the fridges stocked with perishable food which was destined for landfill.

From BBC

Buying perishable items in bulk at a cheaper price is completely out of the question as they will just rot.

From BBC

Don't buy too many ingredients at once, especially perishables.

From Salon

Stocking perishable foods that are starting to look iffy – such as bananas with brown spots sold alongside unblemished yellow bananas – could harm a retailer's image if shoppers start to question the store's quality.

From Salon

Seven in 10 Kashmiris live off perishable fruit cultivation, according to think-tank Observer Research Foundation.

From BBC

More About Perishable

What does perishable mean?

Perishable is used to describe an item, usually food, that typically spoils within a relatively short amount of time, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products.

Such items are often simply called perishables. (When used as a noun, the term is most commonly plural.)

The term is often contrasted with nonperishables—food items that can be stored for a long time without spoiling, like dried grains, beans, and pasta.

Perishable foods need to be specially stored (like in a refrigerator) or eaten relatively quickly. Nonperishables, on the other hand, are things that will last a long time without refrigeration or other special storage.

Example: Let’s try to eat all the perishables before we go on vacation—we don’t want to come back to spoiled milk and rotting tomatoes.

Where does perishable come from?

Perish means “to die,” “to pass away,” or “to suffer ruin.” It comes from Latin perīre, which literally means “to go through” or “to spend fully.” The first records of perishable as an adjective come from around the 1400s. The use of perishable as a noun referring to foods came later. Many early uses of perishable referred to things prone to death and destruction. The word can still be used this way, but today it is most commonly used as a noun in reference to foods that spoil.

Anyone who’s ever waited too long to eat a tomato or tried to drink milk well past its expiration date knows what perishable means. Sometimes, the shelf life of perishables can be extended through some form of processing, such as aging, pickling, drying, freeze-drying, or freezing, among others. But in most cases, you just have to eat ’em before they “go bad.”

This is why nonperishable food is important during emergencies, such as natural disasters, when the regular supply of food is interrupted and electricity may not be available to run refrigerators. Some people keep at least a small supply of nonperishable food items for emergencies or just as part of their normal supply of staples, like dried pasta and bagged snacks. Food banks typically focus on storing nonperishable foods, though many accept perishables as well.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to perishable?

• perish (verb)
• nonperishable (adjective, noun)
• perishability (noun)
• perishableness (noun)
• perishably (adverb)
• unperishable adjective

What are some synonyms for perishable?

• spoilable

What are some words that often get used in discussing perishable?

 

• food
• supply
• produce
• dairy
• goods
• spoil
• expire

 

How is perishable used in real life?

Perishable is most often used to refer to food, but it can also be used to describe other items that can go bad. When it’s used as a noun, it’s usually plural.

FRESH WEEK starts TOMORROW!⁣
⁣
We have enough fresh and perishable items to distribute and we want them to go to those in need.⁣
⁣
May 26 – 29⁣ from 10am – 2pm at Winston St.⁣
⁣
All other locations will remain closed during this week as previously scheduled. pic.twitter.com/uBJQKyimkB

— Greater Vancouver Food Bank (@VanFoodBank) May 25, 2020

Our concern is about how Post-harvest is handled by the farmers (safe storage of such perishables). For this reason we are venturing in development of solar cold room storage facilities for the perishables. So that quality and freshness is maintained and farmers earn more.

— PawaGreen Energy (@PawagreenE) May 26, 2020

Hey @UPS Canada, I have perishable items that were supposed to be delivered TODAY! When will they be delivered? All my packages are arriving more than 10 days late…

— Rossatti (@Prossatti84) May 28, 2020

Try using perishable!

Is perishable used correctly in the following sentence?

Let’s make sure we get all the perishable items in refrigeration.