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

Urinalysis: This test checks your urine for appearance, color, odor, and other characteristics. —Sarah Bradley, Health, 13 Apr. 2024

Residents at council meetings have ticked off their concerns: more marijuana odor, the potential for impaired driving andnormalizing cannabis use to children who see stores on their way to school. —Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

Henningsen agrees and says that vinegar, especially white vinegar, has antibacterial properties to kill bacteria that might present as well as neutralize any odor. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024

Symptoms of a yeast infection in dogs include itching, redness, and a foul odor. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

For yet another Redditor, the mere odor of the food on offer was enough to put them off. —Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024

Even though the resulting odor frequently wafts over the neighborhood, that hasn’t stopped the recent skyrocketing of home sale prices and rents, or the arrival of high-end ice-cream shops, supermarkets, and restaurants. —Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2024

One frequent offender is durian fruit, with its distinctive odor of honey, sewage and rotting onion. —Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024

At launch, those smells are called Gunfire, Explosion, Forest, Storm, Racing Cars, and Clean Air—perhaps the most important, as it’s intended to neutralize whatever odors may linger. —Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 21 Mar. 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