What does deodoriser mean?
A deodoriser is a substance, product, or device used to remove or neutralize an unpleasant smell. It may take the form of an aerosol spray, powder, gel, or other treatment applied to rooms, fabrics, vehicles, and similar places. The word is especially associated with British English and other Commonwealth varieties, while US English normally uses the spelling “deodorizer.” Deodoriser is usually broader in application than deodorant: deodorant most often refers to a product applied to the body, while a deodoriser is commonly associated with treating the environment itself. Nevertheless, the terms can overlap because products marketed as deodorants may both mask and chemically reduce body odour, while deodorisers may also be used for personal freshness. In ordinary use, “deodoriser” clearly conveys the idea of eliminating or neutralizing an unwanted smell rather than merely describing the presence of a scent.
nounA substance, product, or device that neutralizes or removes unwanted odours, especially from a room, garment, vehicle, or similar environment.
- A substance, product, or device that removes or neutralizes unwanted odours.
"She sprayed a lavender deodoriser into the stale hallway."
"She sprayed a lavender deodoriser into the stale hallway."
"The car deodoriser masked the lingering smell of damp upholstery."
The standard plural adds “-s” to the final “-er.”
"Several industrial deodorisers were installed in the warehouse."
Deodoriser is usually for spaces and fabrics; deodorant is normally for the body, though the boundary is not absolute.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does deodoriser come from?
The word is a British-spelling noun formed on “deodorise” with the agent-forming suffix “-er.” “Deodorise” was itself created from the prefix “de-,” meaning removal or reversal, and “odour,” a word borrowed from French and ultimately from Latin. The related American form “deodorizer” reflects the same underlying de- and odor elements, while words such as “odorless” and “odoriferous” share the same Latin root.
How deodoriser is actually used
“Deodoriser” is chiefly the British and Commonwealth spelling; Americans generally write “deodorizer.” It is a countable noun commonly denoting a spray, product, or device, although it can also refer more generally to an agent that removes an odour.
Easily confused with deodoriser
A deodoriser generally neutralizes or removes odours in an environment, whereas a deodorant is usually applied to the body to prevent or mask body odour.