English Reference
Noun

refrigeration

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ɹɪˌfɹɪdʒɝˈeɪʃən/ UK /ɹɪfɹˌɪdʒəɹˈeɪʃən/ re·frig·er·a·tion UK spelling refrigerations Medicine

n.the process of keeping food, medicine, or other items cold so they stay fresh and safe to use. It stops bacteria from growing and prevents things from spoiling.

n.the process of cooling or freezing a substance to maintain it at a temperature below that of the surrounding atmosphere. In medical contexts, it is essential for preserving the efficacy of vaccines and biological samples.


SIMPLE

Proper refrigeration keeps the medicine safe.

CONTEXTUAL

The clinic installed a backup generator to ensure continuous refrigeration for the temperature-sensitive vaccines during power outages.

COMPLEX

Advances in portable refrigeration technology have revolutionized the delivery of medical supplies to remote regions, where maintaining a strict cold chain was previously impossible.

Usage

Primarily uncountable when referring to the process or technology; rarely used in the plural.

For households, the immediate impact is practical: a power cut during extreme heat means no air conditioning and less reliable refrigeration.

Al Jazeera· 31 Aug 2026

HCFCs and HFCs have been widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

ScienceDaily· 9 Jun 2026

From Latin refrigero. Morphologically refrigerate + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated