spoilage

noun

spoil·​age ˈspȯi-lij 

1

: the act or process of spoiling

especially : the process of decay in foodstuffs

2

: something spoiled or wasted

3

: loss by spoilage

Synonyms

• breakdown
• corruption
• decay
• decomposition
• festering
• putrefaction
• putrescence
• rot

Examples of spoilage in a Sentence

The milk should be refrigerated to prevent spoilage.

in the days before refrigeration, spoilage was a constant problem

Recent Examples on the Web

Keeping Beverages Safe With Heat In the 1860s, French microbiologist Louis Pasteur discovered that heating wine and beer killed the organisms that caused spoilage, which then was a significant problem in France. —Kerry E. Kaylegian, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2024

Best Last-Minute Cyber Monday Beauty Deals at Dyson Dyson sales are few and far between, save for the spoilage we get served during Cyber Monday. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 3 Dec. 2024

However, unlike other methods of detecting spoilage, the app doesn’t require a transparent container or for the container to be opened and doesn’t require expensive and bulky equipment. —New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2024

By reducing the amount of time that stock has to be held for or the likelihood of spoilage due to overstocking, costs are reduced, and profits go up. —Bernard Marr, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

spoilage

noun

spoil·​age ˈspȯi-lij 

: the action of spoiling or the condition of being spoiled