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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Spoilage: Definition, Examples & How to Prevent It (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：food decay (spoilage)

spoilage 🔊

/ˈspɔɪ.lɪdʒ/

The process of food becoming bad and unsafe to eat because it is old or not stored properly.

Spoilage example: fresh strawberries decaying into moldy fruit on a kitchen counter.

food decay 🔊

➕

/fuːd dɪˈkeɪ/

The natural process where food deteriorates, becoming inedible or unsafe due to factors like age, bacteria, or improper storage.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From the verb 'spoil' (to decay or impair) + the noun-forming suffix '-age', indicating a process or result.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'spoil' + 'age': Food that has 'aged' or been left too long will 'spoil', leading to spoilage.

📖 Example

To prevent food spoilage, always put leftovers in the fridge as soon as possible. 🔊 This action helps stop food from decaying and becoming unsafe.

🔗 Collocations

food spoilage – The decay of edible items.

prevent spoilage – To stop something from decaying.

spoilage bacteria – Microorganisms that cause food to rot.

🔄 Synonyms

decay (n.) – The process of rotting or decomposition.

rotting (n.) – The state of undergoing decomposition, especially organic matter.

decomposition (n.) – The process by which organic substances are broken down.

🚫 Antonyms

preservation (n.) – The act of maintaining something in its original or existing state.

freshness (n.) – The state of being recently made or obtained; not stale or decayed.

🌱 Derivatives

spoil (v.) – To become unfit for eating or use; to decay.

spoils (n.) – Goods stolen or taken forcibly, or the profits from an activity.

spoiled (adj.) – (Of food) having decayed and become unfit for eating; (of a person) overindulged.

📖 Cultural Story

The term originates from the Latin 'spoliare' meaning 'to plunder or strip', entering English via Old French. In modern commerce, minimizing 'spoilage' is a key metric in supply chain management and sustainability efforts, particularly in the food and manufacturing industries.

Meaning 2：product waste (spoilage)

spoilage 🔊

/ˈspɔɪ.lɪdʒ/

Products that are damaged or defective and cannot be sold, leading to financial loss for a business.

Product spoilage illustration: a cracked smartphone screen found during warehouse inspection.

product waste 🔊

➕

/ˈprɒdʌkt weɪst/

Goods that are damaged, defective, or otherwise rendered unsellable, resulting in financial loss for a producer or retailer.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The factory introduced new packaging to minimize product spoilage during long-distance shipping. 🔊 The goal is to reduce the number of goods damaged and thrown away in transit.

🔗 Collocations

product spoilage – Damage or loss of manufactured goods.

reduce spoilage – To lower the amount of wasted products.

spoilage rate – The percentage or amount of goods that are wasted.

🔄 Synonyms

waste (n.) – Material that is not wanted; the unusable remains.

loss (n.) – An amount of something, often money or goods, that is lost.

damage (n.) – Physical harm impairing the value or usefulness of something.

🚫 Antonyms

salvage (n.) – The rescue of goods or property from loss or destruction.

intact goods (n.) – Products that remain undamaged and in perfect condition.

🌱 Derivatives

spoiler (n.) – A person or thing that spoils something; also, information that ruins a surprise.