What does "processed" mean?

1. (food modification) food that has been changed from its natural state in a factory to make it last longer or taste different. 2. (completed a process) describes something that has finished going through a necessary system or set of steps.

processed

adj.

US //ˈpɹɑsɛst// pro·cessed

1 food modification (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

food that has been changed from its natural state in a factory to make it last longer or taste different.

referring to food items that have undergone industrial refinement, chemical treatment, or mechanical modification for preservation and flavour enhancement.

Example

Many people try to avoid processed foods like sausages and sugary cereals.

Example

The nutritionist argued that a diet high in ultra-processed foods contributes significantly to long-term metabolic health issues in urban populations.
2 completed a process (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

describes something that has finished going through a necessary system or set of steps.

having completed a specific sequence of administrative, legal, or industrial steps.

Example

Once the processed applications are signed, the new employees can start work.

Example

The processed materials were moved to the shipping bay, awaiting final inspection before being dispatched to the regional distributors.
- completed
- finalized
- unprocessed
- raw

Origin

From process + -ed.