preservative
/prɪˈzəːvətɪv
/noun
A substance used to preserve foodstuffs, wood, or other materials against decay: salt has been used for centuries as a preservative the jams contain no artificial colours or preservatives...
- The scheme can only accept household paint and not car paint, varnish, wood preservatives or other chemicals.
- That's it; there are no preservatives, and the garlic is packed in ordinary jars.
- Food additives, such as preservatives and colourants, can also cause skin rashes and wheezing.
adjective
Acting to preserve something: the preservative effects of freezing...
- Doesn't their shape have a preservative effect?
- The Jews would have been familiar with the preservative effects of salt.
- While I'm a relative fan of meat, sausages tend to be stacked with salt, and also may contain preservative chemicals which have been linked with an increased risk of cancer.
Origin
Late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin praeservativus, from late Latin praeservat- 'kept', from the verb praeservare (see preserve).