olfactory

adjective ol·fac·to·ry \ äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rē , ōl- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of olfactory

: of or relating to the sense of smell

olfactory receptors

olfactory sensations

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olfactorily

play \äl-ˈfak-t(ə-)rə-lē, ōl-\ adverb

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olfactory was our Word of the Day on 09/17/2014. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of olfactory from the Web

For this reason, humans aren’t particularly aware of the richness of information that can be transmitted through the air, and can be perceived by a highly sensitive olfactory system.

— andrea soltoggio, Smithsonian, "Artificial Intelligence May Be Able To Smell Illnesses in Human Breath," 12 June 2018
Merely brushing up against the leaves will leave you in a state of olfactory euphoria.

— norman winter, Houston Chronicle, "Golden Delicious pineapple sage," 25 May 2018
Perfumania: Save on all kinds of fragrances, scented body washes, and lotions at this olfactory mecca.

— rachel jacoby zoldan, Glamour, "The Best Memorial Day 2018 Beauty Sales to Shop This Weekend," 23 May 2018
The tart cranberry ignites the fruit and floral aromas in the olfactory system.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "A bourbon tasting game will amp up your Kentucky Derby party," 11 Apr. 2018
The wafting smell of marinated meats cooking away on a scorching grill is part of the olfactory experience of visiting the Mediterranean and points east.

— james patrick kelly, idahostatesman, "Taste Baghdad and beyond at The Goodness Land in Boise | Idaho Statesman," 12 Apr. 2018
With spring's balmy climes at long last nearing, all eyes (and hearts) are set on a fresh new wardrobe—and an olfactory upgrade to match.

— zoe ruffner, Vogue, "This Striking New Scent Collection Matches Fragrance to Your Wardrobe—Not Your Skin," 11 Apr. 2018
The hospitality and restaurant industry has been futzing around with our olfactory memories in the name of experience-making for a few years now.

— elizabeth wellington, Philly.com, "How your nose might lead you to your next girl's night out | Elizabeth Wellington," 10 Apr. 2018
Through aromatherapy, these concentrated oils are breathed in, which allows them to stimulate the olfactory system in the brain.

— maria cassano, Allure, "11 of the Best Essential Oil Diffusers to Make Your Home Smell Amazing," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'olfactory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Olfactory derives from the past participle of the Latin olfacere, which means "to smell" and which was formed from the verb olēre (also "to smell") and facere ("to do"). Olfactory is a word that often appears in scientific contexts (as in "olfactory nerves," the nerves that pass from the nose to the brain and contain the receptors that make smelling possible), but it has occasionally branched out into less specialized contexts. The pleasant smell of spring flowers, for example, might be considered an "olfactory delight." A related word, olfaction, is a noun referring to the sense of smell or the act or process of smelling.