1
: the nosepiece of a helmet
2
: a nasal part
3
: a nasal consonant
1
: of or relating to the nose
2
a
: uttered with the soft palate lowered and with passage of air through the nose (as with \m\, \n\, \ŋ\, \ōⁿ\, or \aⁿ\)
b
: characterized by resonance produced through the nose
3
of a musical tone
: sharp, penetrating
Examples of nasal in a Sentence
Adjective
a bottle of nasal spray
the nasal consonants and
the nasal vowels in French
Her voice is harsh and nasal.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
Naloxone, a nasal spray most commonly known as Narcan, is used as an emergency treatment to reverse drug overdoses.
—Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
Suzy Forman, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024
Allergic reactions can range from mild symptoms like nasal congestion and skin redness to severe symptoms like shortness of breath and fainting.
—Daniel More, Health, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nasal 
Noun
Researchers are optimistic that a nasal spray delivering a COVID vaccine could be ready for the U.S. as soon as 2027.
—Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
Naloxone, a nasal spray most commonly known as Narcan, is used as an emergency treatment to reverse drug overdoses.
—Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
Adjective
Comforter care can impact not only the look and longevity of your purchase but also your health, as inhaling allergens (like dust mite fecal matter—yuck) can lead to symptoms like nasal congestion, Dr. Patel explains.
—Suzy Forman, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024
Allergic reactions can range from mild symptoms like nasal congestion and skin redness to severe symptoms like shortness of breath and fainting.
—Daniel More, Health, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nasal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nasal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near nasal
Cite this Entry
“Nasal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nasal. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nasal
1 of 2 noun
na·sal
ˈnā-zəl 
: a nasal consonant
nasal
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to the nose
2
a
: uttered with passage of air through the nose
the nasal consonants \m\, \n\, and \ŋ\
the nasal vowels in French
b
: marked by resonance produced through the nose
speaking in a nasal tone
Medical Definition
nasal
1 of 2 noun
na·sal
ˈnā-zəl
: a nasal part (as a bone)
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