perishable
PEH-rish-uh-buhl
/ˈpɛrɪʃəbəl/
Likely to decay or go bad quickly.
Usually used for food that requires refrigeration, like meat, dairy, or fresh produce.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin 'perire', which means 'to pass away' or 'to perish'. It entered English through Old French to describe things—originally people, then food—that have a limited time before they are gone.
Word relationships
- degradable: Refers to something that can be broken down biologically, not necessarily food that spoils.
- short-lived: Refers to a lifespan or duration, often used for non-physical things like fame.
- non-perishable: Items that do not spoil, like canned goods or dried pasta.
- durable: Items that last a long time without wearing out.
Commonly confused with
- spoiled: 'Perishable' describes the potential to go bad; 'spoiled' describes food that has already gone bad.
Word family
- perish (verb): To die or be destroyed; to rot.
- perishability (noun): The state of being perishable.
- perishables (noun): Food items that are perishable.
Collocations
- perishable goods
- highly perishable
- perishable food
Example sentences
- "Keep perishable items refrigerated to prevent bacterial growth." Food Safety
- "The shipping company specialized in the transport of highly perishable seafood." Logistics
Memory hook
Perishables will 'perish' if you don't eat them soon. Perishable: Prepare to eat it before it perishes.
When not to use
Avoid using for things that break easily (use 'fragile') or things that wear out over years (use 'non-durable').
Fun facts
- The 'cold chain' is the refrigerated supply chain specifically designed to keep perishables safe from farm to table.
- Honey is one of the few natural foods that is truly non-perishable; edible honey was found in 3,000-year-old Egyptian tombs.
Explore more words
spoilage, shelf-stable, preservative, cold-chain, imperishable, preserve
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