Standard Lemma guide

spoilage

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: S P OY1 L AH0 JH Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: S P OY1 L IH0 JH Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The part of something that has spoiled.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The process of spoiling.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • To prevent spoilage, store in a cool, dry place.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the act of spoiling something by causing damage to it

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • her spoiling my dress was deliberate

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spoil, spoiling

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: injury

4

noun

Meaning 4

the process of becoming spoiled

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: spoiling

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decay

Narrower terms: mildew, mold, mould, souring

5

noun

Meaning 5

the amount that has spoiled

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: indefinite quantity

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin spolium Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin spoliāre Old French espoillierbor. Middle English spoilen English spoil ▲ Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh2tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus Latin -āticus Latin -āticum Old French -agebor. Middle English -age English -age English spoilage From spoil + -age.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: hävikki — part
  • Finnish: pilaantuminen — process
  • French: détérioration — process
  • Galician: deterioración — process
  • Greek: ξίνισμα (xínisma) — process
  • Italian: deterioramento — process
  • Portuguese: deterioração — process
  • Spanish: deterioro — process
  • Spanish: deterioración — process