What does deodorised mean?
Deodorised is the British-spelled past tense and past participle of deodorise, and it describes something from which an unwanted or unpleasant smell has been removed. It is also used as an adjective, as in “deodorised fabric” or “a deodorised room,” meaning that the item or space has been treated to reduce or eliminate bad odours. In American English, the equivalent forms are usually spelled deodorized, deodorizes, and deodorizing. The word can describe the result of chemical or treatment-based odour removal, and it often suggests practical freshness, hygiene, or comfort rather than a deliberately added fragrance. It differs from deodorant, which is the product commonly used to achieve such a result. The term is useful in descriptions of clothing, carpets, bedding, bathrooms, vehicles, and other places where unwanted smells may occur. Its British spelling and its clear participial use distinguish it from the American variant while preserving the same basic meaning.
To remove or reduce an unwanted or unpleasant smell from something.
"The cleaners deodorised the entire room."
The form is the past tense and past participle of deodorise.
Having had an unwanted or unpleasant smell removed, or having been treated to reduce such a smell.
"The deodorised carpet remained fresh throughout the day."
Deodorised is not the product you put on: it means something has been stripped of its unwanted scent, while deodorant is often the thing that does the stripping.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does deodorised come from?
Deodorised is the British-spelled past tense and past participle of deodorise, a verb formed by combining the prefix de-, meaning removal, with odour or odor, ultimately derived from Latin odor, “smell.” The -ise spelling is characteristic of British English, whereas American English normally uses the -ize form, deodorize. The related noun deodorant was developed from this verb family and refers to a product used to reduce unwanted odours.
Related word forms
How deodorised is actually used
The spelling with -s is standard in British English, while American English generally uses -z. The word is commonly used as the past tense or past participle of deodorise and as a participial adjective; it usually implies a completed treatment or removal of odour rather than merely the presence of a pleasant fragrance.
Easily confused with deodorised
Deodorant is a product applied to reduce unwanted smell, whereas deodorised describes something that has already been treated or freed from such a smell.