: something that preserves or has the power of preserving
specifically
: an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage
Examples of preservative in a Sentence
Noun
This food does not contain any artificial preservatives.
The wood was treated with preservative.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
The panel voted against recommending vaccines with the preservative thimerosal, something anti-vaccine advocates have long targeted, and to encourage more conversations between patients and their doctors about the risks of vaccines.
—Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 30 Sep. 2025
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
The hack works for all types of bread but is especially helpful for loaves that don't include preservatives, like homemade and artisanal breads.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preservative
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Adjective
In its first meeting, for instance, Kennedy’s ACIP voted to remove recommendations for flu vaccines that contain the preservative thimerosal, following the counsel of an anti-vaccine activist.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
The panel voted against recommending vaccines with the preservative thimerosal, something anti-vaccine advocates have long targeted, and to encourage more conversations between patients and their doctors about the risks of vaccines.
—Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
The lot in question, labeled 1835U6325A, tested positive for pluralibacter gergoviae, a type of bacteria that some research has shown is resistant to parabens (the preservatives that keep many products shelf-stable).
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
The hack works for all types of bread but is especially helpful for loaves that don't include preservatives, like homemade and artisanal breads.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preservative
Cite this Entry
“Preservative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preservative. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preservative
1 of 2 adjective
pre·ser·va·tive
pri-ˈzər-vət-iv 
: having the power of preserving
preservative
2 of 2 noun
: something that preserves or has the power of preserving
especially
: a substance added to food to prevent spoiling or discoloring
Medical Definition
preservative
noun
pre·ser·va·tive
pri-ˈzər-vət-iv
: something that preserves or has the power of preserving
specifically
: an additive used to protect against decay, discoloration, or spoilage
a food preservative
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