Synonyms of odornext
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 adjective
odorless adjective
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
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.
That flight had twice aborted takeoff and declared an emergency due to an odor onboard that was sickening flight attendants. Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026 The compartments are deep enough to actually hold things upright, and the material wipes clean without absorbing odors from the spatulas and wooden spoons cohabitating within. Jamie Thilman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026 City officials did not say if the spill was large enough to prompt safety concerns or odors for people living near Studman Branch. Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026 Burke's car had ⁠been parked for weeks in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood before being towed ​to an impound lot, where workers reported a foul odor to police. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for odor

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of odor was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Odor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/odor. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

odor

noun
: the quality of something that stimulates the sense of smell : scent
also : a sensation resulting from such stimulation
odorless adjective

Medical Definition

odor

noun
variants or chiefly British odour
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

More from Merriam-Webster on odor

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster