fridge-freezer

IPA/ˌfrɪdʒ ˈfriːzə(r)/
IPA/ˌfrɪdʒ ˈfriːzər/

fridge-freezer — noun

1. a kitchen appliance with two separate compartments — one keeps food cool and the

1.nounB1
Definition

a kitchen appliance with two separate compartments — one keeps food cool and the other keeps it frozen solid

Example

The Watanabe family bought a new fridge-freezer for their renovated kitchen.

Hana put fresh vegetables in the fridge section and frozen fish in the freezer section of her fridge-freezer.

collocation: fridge section / freezer section — dual-compartment storage

Common collocations
  • buy a fridge-freezer
  • deliver a fridge-freezer
  • install a fridge-freezer
  • fridge-freezer breaks down
  • defrost the fridge-freezer
Synonyms
  • refrigerator

    the standard American English term for a combined fridge-freezer; more formal than 'fridge-freezer'

  • fridge

    informal abbreviation; in British English, can refer to either the cooling compartment alone or the whole combined unit

Usage Note

Commonly used in British English. In American English, a combined fridge-freezer is typically called a 'refrigerator' or simply a 'fridge', even though those words can also refer to the cooling compartment alone.

Common Mistakes

We bought a fridge and a freezer for the new kitchen.' (when meaning one combined unit).
We bought a fridge-freezer for the new kitchen.
'fridge-freezer' is a single appliance; 'a fridge and a freezer' means two separate machines.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Fridge-freezer' is common in British English for a single unit with two compartments. In everyday British speech, people often shorten this to 'fridge' even when they mean the combined appliance — context determines whether the freezer part is included. 'Refrigerator' is the formal, technical term used in American English; an American would rarely say 'fridge-freezer' and would instead call the whole unit a 'refrigerator' or 'fridge'. 'Icebox' is a dated term for a refrigerator, no longer used for modern appliances. 'Cooler' refers to a portable insulated box for keeping drinks cold on trips, not a household appliance. For example: 'I need to defrost the fridge-freezer this weekend' vs. 'I'll put the soda in the cooler for the picnic.'

fridge ↗refrigerator ↗icebox ↗cooler ↗

Etymology

LatinOld EnglishEnglish

'Fridge-freezer' is a compound noun formed from 'fridge' (a shortened form of 'refrigerator', which came from Latin 'refrigerare' meaning 'to cool') and 'freezer' (from 'freeze', which comes from Old English 'freosan'). The combined appliance became widely available in British homes from the 1960s, and the compound word appeared to describe this new two-in-one machine.