anosmia

noun

an·​os·​mia a-ˈnäz-mē-ə How to pronounce anosmia (audio)
: loss or impairment of the sense of smell
anosmic adjective

Examples of anosmia in a Sentence

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.
As a result, some scientists would like to see the same test performed on people who have acquired anosmia. Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024 But anosmia is more often acquired through a viral infection such as COVID, a traumatic brain injury or neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. Hannah Docter-Loeb, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2024 Nearly 1 in 4 people have anosmia, according to National Institutes of Health estimates. Linda Carroll, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for anosmia 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of anosmia was in 1797

Dictionary Entries Near anosmia

Cite this Entry

“Anosmia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anosmia. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

anosmia

noun
an·​os·​mia a-ˈnäz-mē-ə How to pronounce anosmia (audio)
: loss or impairment of the sense of smell
anosmic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on anosmia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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