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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The more than half century old landfill, located north of Los Angeles, has seen an uptick of odor complaints in recent years. Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 The purifier is equipped with a HEPA filter that captures microscopic airborne particles, as well as a carbon pre-filter to neutralize odors. Camryn Rabideau, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024 This can take up to eight hours but will help remove trace odors that attract the animal back to the same spot to urinate. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2024 Smell the shrimp to make sure there’s no strong, foul odor. Ronnie Koenig, Parents, 25 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near odor

Cite this Entry

“Odor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/odor. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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