What does gustation mean?
Gustation is the formal noun for taste: both the faculty that detects dissolved flavors and, more narrowly, the act of tasting. In medicine and sensory science, it is used where precise terminology matters, as in research on impaired gustation or the loss of taste after illness. In general writing, “taste” or “the sense of taste” is more natural. The term is also useful in discussions of food and wine, where the mouth's sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami responses can be distinguished from aroma and other aspects of flavor. Its specialized register should not be mistaken for obscurity or archaism; it is an established term for a basic sensory process. Learning it clarifies the distinction between tasting as an action and gustation as a capacity or sensation, while also providing a concise way to discuss how tastes are perceived and how taste loss can affect appetite, nutrition, and quality of life.
nounThe sense or faculty of taste; also, the act or process of tasting.
- The faculty or sense by which flavors are perceived.
- The act or process of tasting.
"The study examined gustation in patients who had lost much of their sense of taste."
"The study examined gustation in patients who had lost much of their sense of taste."
"A sommelier considers both aroma and gustation when describing a wine."
The regular plural is rare, as the singular is normally used for the faculty or process of taste in the abstract.
"The participants' gustations of the test solutions varied considerably."
From Latin gustus, meaning “taste,” gustation names the tongue’s side of flavor, before aroma joins in.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gustation come from?
The English noun was formed in the 17th century from Latin gustatio, meaning “taste” or “an act of tasting,” which was related to gustare, “to taste,” and gustus, “taste.” Related English forms include “gustatory” and the rarer “gustative,” while “gusto” continues the same Latin word through Italian.
How gustation is actually used
A formal or technical noun used chiefly in medicine, sensory science, food, and wine writing. In everyday use, “taste” is more natural. It refers specifically to taste perception rather than the aroma component of flavor.
Easily confused with gustation
Gustation means taste or the act of tasting, whereas gestation refers to pregnancy or the development of an embryo.