odor
noun
ˈō-dər 
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
ˈō-dərd
adjective odorless
ˈō-dər-ləs
adjective 
Synonyms
- air
- ambience
- ambiance
- aroma
- atmosphere
- aura
- climate
- flavor
- halo
- karma
- mood
- nimbus
- note
- patina
- smell
- temper
- vibration(s)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The cheese has a strong odor. This deodorant prevents bad odor from occurring.
Recent Examples on the Web Experts say that whiskey with an exaggerated odor of alcohol most probably is of low quality. 
Toby Grey, BGR, 4 Sep. 2022 The vehicle, occupied by five people, was searched due to an odor of marijuana. cleveland, 24 Aug. 2022 Salem Hospital and Salem State University are among those that have called to report an odor of smoke, Payne said. Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 The wind shifted, and an odor of rot enveloped the barge. New York Times, 14 June 2022 Crews returning to their station from another call smelled an odor around 1:45 a.m. and tracked down the fire, finding heavy smoke pouring from a commercial buiding on Auto Park Way near Citracado Parkway, said Escondido Battalion Chief Jeff Sargis. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2022 Residents in the area detecting an unusual odor were also recommended to shelter in place with doors and windows closed. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2022 Humans have around 800 olfactory receptor genes that can have minor variations, which change how an odor is perceived. Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2022 During the stop, according to the sheriff's office, a Burke County Sheriff’s Office K-9 detected an odor of narcotics, triggering a search of the car. Adam Sabes, Fox News, 5 Aug. 2022 See More
Toby Grey, BGR, 4 Sep. 2022 The vehicle, occupied by five people, was searched due to an odor of marijuana. cleveland, 24 Aug. 2022 Salem Hospital and Salem State University are among those that have called to report an odor of smoke, Payne said. Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 The wind shifted, and an odor of rot enveloped the barge. New York Times, 14 June 2022 Crews returning to their station from another call smelled an odor around 1:45 a.m. and tracked down the fire, finding heavy smoke pouring from a commercial buiding on Auto Park Way near Citracado Parkway, said Escondido Battalion Chief Jeff Sargis. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2022 Residents in the area detecting an unusual odor were also recommended to shelter in place with doors and windows closed. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2022 Humans have around 800 olfactory receptor genes that can have minor variations, which change how an odor is perceived. Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2022 During the stop, according to the sheriff's office, a Burke County Sheriff’s Office K-9 detected an odor of narcotics, triggering a search of the car. Adam Sabes, Fox News, 5 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing odor
Kids Definition
odor
noun
ˈō-dər
: a particular smell
The odor of flowers filled my room.
… the air was … thick with the smell of body odor. Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising
Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising Medical Definition
odor
noun
variants or chiefly British odour
ˈōd-ər
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
odors
noun
1
as in smells
a special quality or impression associated with something the antique shop, with its collection of strange and curious items, held an odor of mysticism Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- smells
- auras
- aromas
- atmospheres
- feelings
- senses
- airs
- flavors
- vibrations
- moods
- climates
- feels
- ambiances
- ambiences
- karmas
- haloes
- tempers
- halos
- nimbuses
- patinas
- notes
- characteristics
- sensations
- spirits
- patinae
- romances
- nimbi
- notions
- traits
- mystiques
- attributes
- images
- properties
- aureoles
- colors
- illusions
- pictures
- peculiarities
- tones
- overtones
- aureolae
- suggestions
- genius locis
- semblances
- characters
- marks
2
as in scents
the quality of a thing that makes it perceptible to the sense organs in the nose some people find the odor of skunk rather pleasant Synonyms & Similar Words
- scents
- smells
- aromas
- stenches
- sniffs
- fragrances
- malodors
- perfumes
- whiffs
- spices
- fragrancies
- savors
- redolences
- stinks
- musks
- attars
- tangs
- reeks
- bouquets
- aromaticities
- funks
- incenses
- ottos
- fetors
- savours
- ambrosias
- rancidities
3
as in reputations
overall quality as seen or judged by people in general her movie career has not been in good odor since her latest box office failure Synonyms & Similar Words
- reputations
- reputes
- names
- fames
- reports
- characters
- notes
- notorieties
- marks
- reps
- admirations
- images
- honors
- celebrities
- personae
- reverences
- renowns
- regards
- credits
- personas
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- infamies
- ignominies
- reproaches
- odiums
- disgraces
- discredit
- opprobriums
- shames
- dishonors
- disreputes
- obloquies
- touch watch
- touch-and-go
- touch-and-heal
- touch-in-goal
- touch-in-goal line
- touch-me-not
- touch-me-not-ish
- touch-me-not-ishness
- touch-tackle
- touch-tone
- touch-type
- touch-typed
- touch-types
- touch-typing
- touch-up
- touch/strike/hit a raw nerve
- touchabilities
- touchable
- touchablenesses
- touchabler
- touchablest
- touchback
- touchbacks
- touchball
- touchbox