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preservative meaning and examples

2025-08-24

Meaning

Preservative refers to a substance that is added to food, drinks, or other products to prevent them from decaying, spoiling, or going bad.

  • As a noun: It means the actual chemical or substance used to keep things fresh.
  • As an adjective: It describes something that protects or preserves.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech:

    • Noun (countable/uncountable)
    • Adjective
  • Typical usage:

    • "a food preservative"
    • "preservative-free products"
    • "the preservative effect"

Common Phrases

  • "chemical preservative"
  • "food preservative"
  • "natural preservative"
  • "preservative-free"
  • "act as a preservative"

Collocations

  • verb + preservative: contain, add, use, act as
  • adjective + preservative: artificial, chemical, natural, effective
  • preservative + noun: preservative agent, preservative substance, preservative effect

Examples

  1. This juice contains no artificial preservatives.
  2. Salt has been used as a natural preservative for centuries.
  3. The company is developing preservative-free cosmetics.
  4. Chemical preservatives help extend the shelf life of packaged foods.
  5. Vinegar is often used as a preservative in pickling.
  6. These tablets have a special preservative coating.
  7. Natural preservatives are gaining popularity in the food industry.
  8. Preservatives prevent bacteria from growing in the product.
  • Additive
  • Antioxidant
  • Stabilizer
  • Preserver
  • Protector