odor

noun

ˈō-dər 

1

a

: a quality of something that stimulates the olfactory organ : scent

b

: a sensation resulting from adequate stimulation of the olfactory organ : smell

2

a

: a characteristic or predominant quality : flavor

the odor of sanctity

b

: repute, estimation

in bad odor

3

archaic : something that emits a sweet or pleasing scent : perfume

odored

ˈō-dərd 

adjective

odorless

ˈō-dər-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms

• air
• ambience
• ambiance
• aroma
• atmosphere
• aura
• climate
• flavor
• halo
• karma
• mood
• nimbus
• note
• patina
• smell
• temper
• vibration(s)

Choose the Right Synonym for odor

smell, scent, odor, aroma mean the quality that makes a thing perceptible to the olfactory sense.

smell implies solely the sensation without suggestion of quality or character.

an odd smell permeated the room

scent applies to the characteristic smell given off by a substance, an animal, or a plant.

the scent of lilacs

odor may imply a stronger or more readily distinguished scent or it may be equivalent to smell.

a cheese with a strong odor

aroma suggests a somewhat penetrating usually pleasant odor.

the aroma of freshly ground coffee

Examples of odor in a Sentence

The cheese has a strong odor.

This deodorant prevents bad odor from occurring.

Recent Examples on the Web

Although the dish itself comes together in minutes, be sure to set aside two hours so that the fish can marinate in a mixture of milk and hot sauce, which adds a spicy note while also mellowing the fishy odor and flavor of the trout. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024

The odor was caused by an overheated battery, according to Boyd. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English odour, borrowed from Anglo-French odur, borrowed from Latin odor (early Latin odōs), going back to *od-os-, s-stem derivative of a verbal base *od- (whence Latin oleō, olēre, also olō, olere "to give off a smell, smell (of)," from *odere), going back to Indo-European *h₃ed-, whence Greek ózein "to smell, give off an odor," Armenian hot "smell, odor" (probably also an s-stem), Lithuanian úodžiu, úosti "to smell, sniff"

Note: The length in the Baltic form is attributed to Winter's Law, which is believed to lengthen vowels before an original voiced, unaspirated stop in Baltic and Slavic in certain environments.

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing odor

• body odor

Kids Definition

odor

noun

ˈōd-ər 

: the quality of something that stimulates the sense of smell : scent

also : a sensation resulting from such stimulation

odorless

-ləs 

adjective

Medical Definition

odor

noun

variants or chiefly British odour

ˈōd-ər 

1

: a quality of something that stimulates the olfactory organ : smell

2

: a sensation resulting from adequate chemical stimulation of the olfactory organ

a disagreeable odor

odored adjective

or chiefly British odoured

odorless adjective

or chiefly British odourless