nostril

noun

nos·​tril ˈnä-strəl 

1

: either of the external nares

broadly : either of the nares with the adjoining passage on the same side of the septum

2

: either fleshy lateral wall of the nose

Examples of nostril in a Sentence

My left nostril is stuffed up.

She left in a rage, her nostrils flaring.

Recent Examples on the Web

With its inherent bite, garlic for me is key, clearing the nostrils and complementing the pepper. —Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025

The Mormon Wives star, 32, took to Instagram on March 4 to talk about her Weir excision — a procedure that reduces the width of a person's nostrils — and how her time on the show affected her decision to have the surgery. —Athena Sobhan, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025

When a car passed along a distant country road, Pumpkin flared her nostrils, always on alert for a predator. —Gary Shteyngart, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

Facing him must be like running a marathon uphill with a 50-pound backpack full of constantly shifting liquid with tape over your mouth and one nostril. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nosethirl, from Old English nosthyrl, from nosu nose + thyrel hole; akin to Old English thurh through

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nostril

• austral
• rostral

Kids Definition

nostril

noun

nos·​tril ˈnäs-trəl 

: either of the outer openings of the nose through which one breathes

also : either fleshy wall forming a side of the nose

Etymology

Old English nosthyrl "nostril," literally "nose hole," from nosu "nose" and thyrel "hole" — related to thrill see Word History at thrill

Medical Definition

nostril

noun

nos·​tril ˈnäs-trəl 

1

: either of the external nares

broadly : either of the nares with the adjoining passage on the same side of the nasal septum

2

: either fleshy lateral wall of the nose