What does refrigerate mean?
Refrigerate means to cool something, most often food, medicine, or another perishable item, so that it remains fresh or safe for longer. The verb is especially common in household instructions, such as “keep refrigerated,” and in formal medical or commercial guidance. Refrigeration does not ordinarily mean freezing; it means maintaining a cool temperature that slows spoilage and the growth of microorganisms. The related noun, refrigeration, describes the process or practice, while a refrigerator is the appliance that carries it out. Although refrigerators use electricity to remove heat, the word also retains a broader sense of making something cool. In general use, “refrigerate” suggests deliberate preservation rather than simply making an object feel cold.
verbTo make something cool, especially to a temperature that slows or prevents the growth of microorganisms. It is commonly used for preserving food and other perishable items.
- To cool something, especially food or drink, in a refrigerator or other cooling device.
- To preserve something by keeping it at a suitably low temperature.
"She refrigerated the leftover soup before putting it in the freezer."
"The pharmacist instructed her to refrigerate the medicine."
"Fresh berries should be refrigerated and eaten within a few days."
Refrigerate comes from Latin roots meaning “cool again,” a fitting description of the process that keeps food fresh by slowing down spoilage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does refrigerate come from?
The word comes from Latin refrigerāre, formed from re- meaning “again” and frīgēre meaning “to cool.” It entered English through French and was used from the early 19th century for cooling or preserving substances. Its Latin root is also reflected in related English forms such as frigid, frigidity, and refrigerant, all connected with the idea of coldness.
Related word forms
How refrigerate is actually used
The word is formal but widely used in everyday English, particularly in food storage, medical advice, and product labeling. It is usually transitive, although “refrigerate” can occasionally be used intransitively in technical or commercial contexts.
Easily confused with refrigerate
“Refrigerate” is the verb meaning to cool or preserve something in a refrigerator, whereas “refrigerator” is the appliance used for that purpose.