Synergistic　antibacterial　effect　is　a　promising　way　to　overcome　the　challenge　of　microbial　contamination　in　food.　In　this　study,　we　detected　the　synergistic　interactions　of　nisin　and　carvacrol.　The　MIC　of　nisin　and　carvacrol　against　S.　aureus　were　60　and　125　μg/mL,　respectively.　The　FICI　and　FBCI　were　0.28125　and　0.09375,　which　suggested　that　the　nisin/carvacrol　combination　presented　synergistic　antibacterial　effect　against　S.　aureus.　The　antibacterial　activity　of　nisin/carvacrol　combination　was　much　higher　than　their　individuals　and　the　dose　of　antibacterials　was　obviously　reduced.　The　combination　could　completely　kill　S.　aureus　within　8　h,　accelerate　the　destruction　of　cell　membrane,　and　inhibit　formation　of　biofilm.　Under　the　intervention　of　nisin,　more　CAR　could　enter　cell　to　hunt　intracellular　targets,　leading　to　an　increase　in　intracellular　antibacterial　level.　Besides,　in　the　storage　of　pasteurized　milk,　the　combinational　treatment　successfully　inhibited　microbial　reproduction　at　25　°C　and　4　°C.　Thus,　the　combination　of　nisin　and　carvacrol　was　a　potential　synergistic　strategy　for　food　preservation.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd