# preservative

> English word · Noun · IPA /prɪˈzəːvətɪv/ · frequency rank #37,637

## Definitions
1. Any agent, natural or artificial, that acts to preserve, especially when added to food.

## Etymology
From Old French preservatif, from Medieval Latin praeservativus.

## Easily confused with
- **preservation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/preservation-vs-preservative)

## Common misspellings (18)
`perservative`, `ppreservative`, `preesrvative`, `preseravtive`, `preserrvative`, `preservaitve`, `preservatiev`, `preservativve`, `preservattive`, `preservatvie`, `preservtaive`, `preservvative`, `presevrative`, `presrevative`, `presservative`, `prreservative`, `prseervative`, `rpeservative`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/preservative