rancid

adjective ran·cid \ ˈran(t)-səd \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of rancid

1 : having an unpleasant smell or taste usually from chemical change or decomposition

rancid butter

rancid breath

2 : distinctly unpleasant or distasteful : offensive

a rancid sexual scandal

Without free speech, even in its most rancid forms, we may have nothing to choose at night but old movies and "Heeeeeeeere's Johnny!"
—Richard Corliss

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rancidity

play \ran-ˈsi-də-tē\ noun

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rancidness

play \ˈran(t)-səd-nəs\ noun

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Examples of rancid in a Sentence

Some foods become rancid quickly.
an unscrupulous food vendor who's as rancid as the meat that he serves

Recent Examples of rancid from the Web

The retreat of that rancid ideology — formally declared through the passage of anti-discrimination laws — cleared the way for African-Americans to make profound material and cultural gains.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "50 Years After His Assassination, We Are No Closer to Realizing MLK’s Most Radical Dream," 4 Apr. 2018
Orientals were unquestionably the victims of long and rancid racial bigotry; coolie labor was little more than slave labor.

— anne branigin, The Root, "Trump, the Walking Internet Comments Section, Taps Racist Blogger for Federal Job," 3 Mar. 2018
Just to be clear, Bilas and Vitale have, in the past, vigorously defended Rick Pitino and Sean Miller — two coaches who seemingly reside in the most rancid part of the sewer that is college basketball.

— mike bianchi, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale need to vilify cheating coaches instead of villainizing NCAA," 27 Feb. 2018
Or the liquid becomes too rich in ammonia or somewhat rancid-tasting, or everything turns the bad kind of moldy.

— tejal rao, New York Times, "Exploring the Sweet Subtleties of Vinegar," 5 Feb. 2018
Schaich says oil at this stage tastes a little acrid, grassy and rancid—almost burned.

— tarah knaresboro, Popular Mechanics, "How to Make French Fries Perfectly," 2 Feb. 2015
Usually if something smells funky or rancid, we've been trained to toss it.

— alyse whitney, Bon Appetit, "The Science Behind Why We Love Stinky Cheese," 17 May 2017
Olive oil: Leaving olive oil out on the counter or a table, especially if the bottle gets direct sunlight, or storing it on or near a stove are surefire ways to turn it rancid quickly.

— jessica teich, USA TODAY, "You've been storing your food wrong—here are all the right ways," 13 Sep. 2017
Besides elating the National Peanut Board, the jars can stay on a food-bank shelf for a long time without going rancid — New Mexico State specifically says no expired items can be donated.

— USA TODAY, "Peanut butter for poor parking? This university is letting students donate to pay off a ticket," 6 Oct. 2017

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

Did You Know?

Rancid has a fairly straightforward history; it derives from Latin rancidus, itself from the Latin verb rancēre, meaning "to be rancid" or "to stink." In addition to the related words rancidness and rancidity, another descendant of rancēre in English is rancor, meaning "bitter deep-seated ill will." (Rancor passed through Middle French rather than being borrowed into English directly.) These days, rancid also has developed a second, extended sense which is used in the context of offenses to less literal or physical senses than those of smell or taste, and you might see references to "rancid behavior" or "a rancid personality."