adjective
Common
processed
PROH-sehst
Processed (adjective) means having been treated or altered, especially food that has been refined or manufactured rather than left in its natural state. Example: “Many ready meals are made from processed cheese and flavourings.”
adjective
1
Having been treated or altered, especially food that has been refined or manufactured rather than left in its natural state.
"Many ready meals are made from processed cheese and flavourings."
"She tries to avoid heavily processed foods."
"The application was processed within 24 hours."
How to use processed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishChanged or handled through a set procedure — often used for food that’s been manufactured rather than fresh.
Common pairings
processed food
processed cheese
ultra-processed
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more processed
- Superlative
- most processed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Many ready meals are made from _____ cheese and flavourings.
Etymology
From process + the past-tense suffix -ed.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unprocessed
modified through manufacture
Related words
Rhymes for processed
blessed
dressed
pressed
assessed
stressed
obsessed
recessed
depressed
professed
repressed
possessed
oppressed
See all rhymes for processed →
Frequently asked questions
What does “processed” mean?
The word “processed” means having been treated or altered, especially food that has been refined or manufactured rather than left in its natural state. In plain terms, changed or handled through a set procedure — often used for food that’s been manufactured rather than fresh.
How do you pronounce “processed”?
“Processed” is pronounced PROH-sehst (/ˈpɹɑsɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “processed” in a sentence?
Here is “processed” used in a sentence: “She tries to avoid heavily processed foods.”
What is the opposite of “processed”?
The opposite of “processed” — its antonyms — are unprocessed and modified through manufacture.
What part of speech is “processed”?
“Processed” is an adjective.
Is “processed” a common word?
“Processed” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between processed and unprocessed food?
Processed food has been treated or altered from its natural state through refining, cooking, or manufacturing. Unprocessed food, often called whole food, remains in or very close to its natural form, such as fresh fruit, plain vegetables, or raw grains.
What is the difference between processed and ultra-processed food?
Both describe foods altered from their natural state, but 'ultra-processed' refers to a more extreme degree, describing products made mostly from industrial ingredients and additives. Simply 'processed' can include lighter steps like freezing, canning, or bagging.
What is the difference between processed and refined?
Refining is one type of processing that removes parts of a food, such as stripping bran from grain or impurities from sugar. 'Processed' is the broader term covering any manufacturing or treatment, so all refined foods are processed but not all processed foods are refined.
Is all processed food unhealthy?
Not necessarily; 'processed' simply means altered from a natural state, which includes basic and harmless steps like freezing, canning, or bagging. Health concerns usually center on heavily processed or ultra-processed foods high in added salt, sugar, or fat rather than on processing itself.
