anosmia

noun

an·​os·​mia a-ˈnäz-mē-ə 

: loss or impairment of the sense of smell

anosmic

a-ˈnäz-mik 

adjective

Examples of anosmia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The loss of smell, or anosmia, is such a common symptom of Covid-19 that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently added it to its official list. —Greg Miller, Discover Magazine, 19 May 2020

The scientific term for loss of smell is anosmia, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought this disorder to the forefront, as more than 40% of patients reported loss of smell. —Kristen Lynch, USA TODAY, 1 Aug. 2023

This is one potential factor, but further research is being conducted to understand more about the causes of anosmia. —Nessa Riazi, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2017

Roughly 5% of people who experience smell loss during COVID-19 will develop long-term anosmia, according to Dr. Bradley J. Goldstein, an ear, nose and throat doctor at Duke University Hospital. —Nicole Kagan, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Greek an- an- + -osmia (as in euosmía "fragrance, perfume," kakosmía "bad odor"), from -osmos "having an odor (of the kind specified)" (adjective derivative from osmḗ "odor, scent," going back to *od-smā, derivative—with -smē, -mē, deverbal noun suffix—of od-, base of ózein "to smell, give off an odor") + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at odor

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

anosmia

noun

an·​os·​mia a-ˈnäz-mē-ə 

: loss or impairment of the sense of smell

anosmic

-mik 

adjective