WordGarden.iospillage
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /spˈɪlɪdʒ/
US
- /ˈspɪlɪdʒ/
Meanings
Noun
the accidental spilling of liquid or other contents, or the material spilled
unauthorized transfer or exposure of classified or sensitive digital information
Beyond the definition
Spillage is what happens when something accidentally flows, leaks, or falls out of the place that was holding it. Think of a waiter tipping over a glass of wine. It can be milk on a table, oil from an engine, or grain falling from a sack. The situation often tells you what has escaped and how serious it is. A little coffee on your desk is a small problem; an oil spill at sea is a much bigger one.
The word carries the idea of an accident. It was not supposed to happen, but it did. People often talk about cleaning up a spillage or stopping it from spreading. In formal settings, the word is common in safety reports, transport, factories, and environmental news.
Spillage refers to the accidental release of something from the container, surface, or system that was holding it. It is most often used for liquids, powders, grains, chemicals, fuel, or other materials that spread after escaping. We often think of milk from a carton, water from a cup, oil from a tank, or grain from a bag. The word suggests that the movement was not planned and that the material ended up where it should not be.
The seriousness of a spillage depends on what escaped and how much of it there is. A small kitchen spillage may need only a cloth or mop. A chemical spillage at a factory may require safety equipment and trained cleanup workers. A fuel spillage on a road can create danger for drivers, and an oil spillage at sea can badly harm wildlife and the environment.
The term is common in safety, environmental, and industrial contexts. You may see it in news reports, warning signs, workplace rules, or official documents. For example, a report might mention a fuel spillage on a highway, a chemical spillage in a storage area, or food spillage in a warehouse. In everyday English, people may also use it for small accidents at home, though many speakers simply say "spill" in casual conversation.
In some special fields, the word can also be used in extended ways, such as "data spillage" for sensitive information ending up in the wrong place. Still, its main meaning is physical: something has accidentally come out and needs to be cleaned up, contained, or dealt with. Whether it is a minor mess or a serious accident, spillage points to an unwanted escape of material.
Examples
- 1
Prevention
The bottle has a special cap to prevent spillage.
- 2
Transport mess
There was some paint spillage in the back of the van.
- 3
Environmental accident
The company faced heavy fines after an oil spillage near the coast.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- oil spillage
- chemical spillage
- prevent spillage
- spillage from a container
Word family
Explore
- contamination
- hazardous material
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- spillagenoun
Forms
- spillagespluralnoun