processed food

noun

Any food that has been altered from its natural state, whether through simple cleaning and cutting or through more complex manufacturing with added ingredients like salt, sugar, and fats.

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Meanings

nounprocessed food (plural processed foods)

plural processed foods

  1. Any food that has been altered from its natural state, whether through simple cleaning and cutting or through more complex manufacturing with added ingredients like salt, sugar, and fats.

    Some processed foods have ingredients added, such as sweeteners, oils, colors and preservatives. Some are fortified to add nutrients such as fiber, calcium or vitamin D.

    2024 July 31, heart.org

Origin

From processed + food

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

processed food. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/processed%20food

MLA

“processed food.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/processed%20food. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “processed food,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/processed%20food.

Source: processed food on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.