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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Just spray on a bunch of perfume, this 30-year-old bottle of YSL Paris that my mom gave me. R29 Team, Refinery29, 1 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, higher up, growers such as Raffaele Moccia (Agnanum) have more perfumes freshness in their wines. Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
At Shen House, once the lavish residence of Ming dynasty tycoon Shen Wansan, creaking floorboards and moon gates lead to quiet courtyards perfumed with jasmine—while silk threads shimmer in tiny shops, and calligraphers bend over scrolls lit by lantern glow. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025 Perhaps the most minimalistic option on this list, Diptyque’s Electric Diffuser is perfect for perfuming a small space with fine French fragrance. Austa Somvichian-Clausen, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perfume

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perfume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfume. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

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

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