Word
perishable
Phoneticsper·ish·able
US/ˈpɛɹɪʃəbəɫ/
UK/pˈɛɹɪʃəbəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a substance or item that can rot, decay, or spoil quickly. You usually use this to describe food like milk or meat that needs to be kept cold.
n. a substance or item that is subject to decay, rot, or spoilage. Often used in the plural to refer to foodstuffs requiring refrigeration.
Examples
“Milk is a perishable item that needs to be kept cold.”
“The grocery store has a special section for perishable goods like fresh fish and dairy products.”
“Logistics companies must maintain strict temperature controls throughout the supply chain to ensure that perishable cargo remains safe for human consumption.”
Examples
simple
“Milk is a perishable item that needs to be kept cold.”
contextual
“The grocery store has a special section for perishable goods like fresh fish and dairy products.”
complex
“Logistics companies must maintain strict temperature controls throughout the supply chain to ensure that perishable cargo remains safe for human consumption.”
Real-World Examples
“But if they were used, they were probably made from perishable materials like leather and fiber.” “If an outage lasts for several hours, households may struggle to keep perishable food safely refrigerated.” Etymology
From Middle English *persishable, perysabyl, equivalent to perish + -able. Compare Old French perissable (and modern French périssable).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/perishable