spoilage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Business
Quick answer
What does “spoilage” mean?
The process or result of something decaying, deteriorating, or becoming unfit for use, especially food.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process or result of something decaying, deteriorating, or becoming unfit for use, especially food.
Can refer to waste, loss, or damage in manufacturing and service contexts due to defects or errors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Neutral, process-oriented term in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American business/industry contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “spoilage” in a Sentence
N of N (spoilage of food)ADJ + spoilage (excessive spoilage)V + spoilage (prevent spoilage)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spoilage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The goods have spoiled due to the heat.
American English
- The milk spoiled because the fridge broke.
adverb
British English
- The food had gone off spoilingly quickly.
American English
- The fruit turned spoilingly fast in the humidity.
adjective
British English
- They disposed of the spoilt meat.
American English
- They threw out the spoiled vegetables.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to financial loss from unsellable goods, e.g., 'We must cut costs by reducing product spoilage.'
Academic
Used in food science and microbiology studies on decay processes.
Everyday
Typically used when discussing food going bad, e.g., 'Put the milk in the fridge to avoid spoilage.'
Technical
In manufacturing, refers to defective output or material waste.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spoilage”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spoilage”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spoilage”
- Using 'spoilage' for a single spoiled item (prefer 'a spoiled item').
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'three spoilages' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an uncountable (mass) noun. You refer to 'a high level of spoilage', not 'a spoilage'.
Yes, it can refer to waste or defective products in manufacturing, e.g., 'material spoilage'.
The main verb is 'to spoil'. 'Spoilage' is the noun form describing the process or result.
In American English, 'spoiled' is used for both verb and adjective. In British English, 'spoilt' is common as the adjective/past participle, though 'spoiled' is also used.
The process or result of something decaying, deteriorating, or becoming unfit for use, especially food.
Spoilage is usually formal, technical, business in register.
Spoilage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɔɪlɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɔɪlɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A casualty of spoilage”
- “Lost to spoilage”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SPOIL + AGE. When food spoils, its 'age' is up—it's past its prime.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A DESTROYER (aging leads to spoilage)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'spoilage' LEAST likely to be used?