What does malodor mean?
Malodor is a noun for an unpleasant or offensive smell, especially one that is persistent and noticeable in the environment. It is more formal and more encompassing than stink, which can suggest a particularly sharp or recent stench, and it is less neutral than odor, which may describe a pleasant smell as well. The word is common in contexts involving body odor, food spoilage, damp buildings, waste, tobacco smoke, and chemical products, including discussions of public health, sanitation, and consumer complaints. Because malodor explicitly characterizes the smell as bad, it is more evaluative than the phrase bad smell, although both carry a negative connotation. Malodor also appears in technical and commercial language, such as malodor control and malodor removal. The related adjective is malodorous. Although everyday speakers often use stink, foul odor, or bad smell, malodor is useful when the smell itself must be named as a property, problem, or source rather than as an immediate expression of disgust.
nounAn unpleasant or offensive smell, especially one that is persistent and easily noticed.
- An unpleasant, offensive, or persistent smell.
"The building was closed after inspectors detected a persistent malodor in the basement."
"Regular cleaning helped eliminate the malodor from the old refrigerator."
"Residents complained that the cooking facility was causing a foul malodor throughout the apartment building."
The regular plural is used when referring to multiple offensive smells or distinct instances of malodor.
"The factory installed filters to reduce the malodors released during production."
Its Latin recipe is literally “bad smell”: malus (“bad”) plus odor (“smell”).
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does malodor come from?
Malodor is a Latin-derived English formation joining malus, meaning “bad,” with odor, meaning “scent” or “smell.” The same Latin bad-root appears in words including malign, malady, malefic, and malfeasance. Malodor was established in English by the early modern period and is also commonly spelled malodour in British English.
Related word forms
How malodor is actually used
Malodor is more formal than stink and more explicitly negative than odor. It is especially common in technical, commercial, public-health, and complaint contexts. In British English, the spelling malodour is common.
Easily confused with malodor
An odor can be pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant, whereas a malodor is specifically an offensive smell.