perfume

1 of 2

noun

1
: the scent of something sweet-smelling
2
: a substance that emits a pleasant odor
especially : a fluid preparation of natural essences (as from plants or animals) or synthetics and a fixative used for scenting

perfume

2 of 2

verb

per·​fume (ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm How to pronounce perfume (audio)
ˈpər-ˌfyüm
perfumed; perfuming

transitive verb

: to fill or imbue with an odor
Choose the Right Synonym for perfume

fragrance, perfume, scent, redolence mean a sweet or pleasant odor.

fragrance suggests the odors of flowers or other growing things.

the fragrance of pine

perfume may suggest a stronger or heavier odor.

the perfume of lilacs

scent is very close to perfume but of wider application because more neutral in connotation.

scent-free soaps

redolence implies a mixture of fragrant or pungent odors.

the redolence of a forest after a rain

Examples of perfume in a Sentence

Noun She smelled the different perfumes at the store. the perfume of fresh flowers filled the room Verb The meal included a delicate fish perfumed with butter and herbs. a time when it was common for men to perfume their hair
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Aesop Gone viral many a time for their perfumes, Aesop is a master of aromatherapy. Megan Wahn, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2024 Priced between 24 euros for the lip balm to 44 euros for the solid perfume, the collection is available at both brands’ online stores. Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
The drawer liners are perfumed with fragrance oils that diffuse as they are exposed to air. Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2024 This cube is small but mighty, infused with sweet almond oil to both perfume the bath and leave skin feeling ultra soft and moisturized. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for perfume 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perfume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French perfum, probably from Old Occitan, from perfumar to perfume, from per- thoroughly (from Latin) + fumar to smoke, from Latin fumare, from fumus smoke — more at fume

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1546, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perfume was in 1546

Dictionary Entries Near perfume

Cite this Entry

“Perfume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfume. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

perfume

1 of 2 noun
1
: the scent of something usually sweet-smelling
2
: a substance that gives off a pleasant odor
especially : a liquid containing fragrant oils (as from flowers) mixed with alcohol and applied to the body to give it a pleasant odor

perfume

2 of 2 verb
per·​fume (ˌ)pər-ˈfyüm How to pronounce perfume (audio)
ˈpər-ˌfyüm
perfumed; perfuming
: to fill with a pleasing odor (as of flowers)

More from Merriam-Webster on perfume

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!