perishable

P3E1R1I1S1H4A1B3L1E1
/ˈpɛ.ɹɪ.ʃə.bəl/

adjective

Liable to perish, especially naturally subject to quick decomposition or decay.

“perishable goods”

Similar
ephemeralshortlivedbiodegradabledecayableputrescibleputrefiablespoilable
Opposite
imperishableunperishable
OriginMiddle English *persishable →
Less commonScrabble 17
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Meanings

adjectiveperishable (comparative more perishable, superlative most perishable)

comparative more perishable · superlative most perishable

  1. Liable to perish, especially naturally subject to quick decomposition or decay.

    perishable goods

    1 more example

    perishable foodstuffs

    Synonyms: ephemeral, shortlived · Antonyms: imperishable, unperishable

nounperishable (plural perishables)

plural perishables

  1. That which perishes or is short-lived.
  2. in pluralFood that does not keep for long.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveLiable to perish, especially naturally subject to quick decomposition or decay.

Similar
ephemeralshortlived
Opposite
imperishableunperishable

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveliable to perish; subject to destruction or death or decay

Similar
biodegradabledecayableputrescibleputrefiable
Opposite
imperishable

nounfood that will decay rapidly if not refrigerated

Similar
spoilable
Broader
foodstufffood product
Also see
biodegradabledecayableephemeralfleetinginstantpassingputrefiableputresciblespoilabletemporarytransitoryvolatile

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle English*persishable
  2. Englishperishable

From Middle English *persishable, perysabyl, equivalent to perish + -able. Compare Old French perissable (and modern French périssable).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian нетраен
  • нетраен (netraen)liable to perish
Catalan perible
  • peribleliable to perish
Dutch beperkt houdbaar, bederfelijk
  • beperkt houdbaarliable to perish
  • bederfelijkliable to perish
  • bederfelijke eetwarenfood that does not keep
  • bederfelijke levensmiddelenfood that does not keep
Finnish pilaantuva, tuoretuote
  • pilaantuvaliable to perish
  • tuoretuotefood that does not keep
French périssable, denrées périssables
  • périssableliable to perish
  • denrées périssablesfood that does not keep
German verderblich, leichtverderblich
  • verderblichliable to perish
  • leichtverderblichliable to perish
  • vergänglichliable to perish
  • kurzlebigliable to perish
  • begrenzt haltbarliable to perish
  • Vergänglichesthat which perishes
  • Verderblichesfood that does not keep
  • Leichtverderblichesfood that does not keep
Hindi विनाशी, नश्वर
  • विनाशी (vināśī)liable to perish
  • नश्वर (naśvar)liable to perish
Hungarian romlandó
  • romlandóliable to perish
Italian deperibile
  • deperibileliable to perish
Norwegian lettbedervelig
  • lettbederveligliable to perish
Polish nietrwały
  • nietrwałyliable to perish
Portuguese perecível
  • perecívelliable to perish
Russian бре́нный, тле́нный
  • бре́нный (brénnyj)liable to perish
  • тле́нный (tlénnyj)liable to perish
  • сме́ртный (smértnyj)liable to perish
  • преходя́щий (prexodjáščij)liable to perish
  • скоропортящиеся продукты (skoropórtjaščijesja prodúkty)food that does not keep
Spanish perecedero, caduco
  • perecederoliable to perish
  • caducoliable to perish
  • efímeroliable to perish
  • perecibleliable to perish
  • fallideroliable to perish
Welsh darfodus
  • darfodusliable to perish
Cite this entry
APA

perishable. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perishable

MLA

“perishable.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perishable. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “perishable,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perishable.

Source: perishable on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.