refrigerator

American  

[ri-frij-uh-rey-ter] / rɪˈfrɪdʒ əˌreɪ tər /

noun

1. a box, room, or cabinet in which food, drink, etc., are kept cool by means of ice or mechanical refrigeration.

2. the part of a distilling apparatus that cools the volatile material, causing it to condense; condenser; rectifier.

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refrigerator British  

/ rɪˈfrɪdʒəˌreɪtə /

noun

1. Informal word: fridge.  a chamber in which food, drink, etc, are kept cool

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Etymology

Origin of refrigerator

First recorded in 1605–15; refrigerate + -or ²

Explanation

A refrigerator is a kitchen appliance where you can store your perishable food at a cool temperature. You should store your milk and meat in the refrigerator to keep them from spoiling. The term refrigerator is often shortened to fridge, and because of this, people often mistakenly try to spell refrigerator with a d. Refrigerators come in all sizes, from a small cube that is often used in college dorm rooms by students trying to keep a six-pack of soda cool, to a huge walk-in refrigerator that might be used at a restaurant to cool all the ingredients for the week's meals.

Example Sentences

“The kitchen is appointed with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, an 8-burner Forno range, Wolf microwave, and marble countertops,” adds the listing.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Parpart wasn’t the first to do this; in 1913, Fred W. Wolf patented an electric refrigerator that consisted of a refrigeration unit placed on top of an icebox.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The ADU has a roomy kitchenette with white cabinets and countertops, a compact air fryer-toaster oven from Our Place, and a slim retro-style refrigerator from Unique.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

They are often stored in the refrigerator, which spoils their texture and reduces their flavor, regardless of variety.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

She had a hard time understanding why a new refrigerator got them so excited.

From "Wolfie & Fly" by Cary Fagan

Related Words

• cooler