What does odorous mean?
Odorous is an adjective meaning that something has a noticeable or strong smell, especially an unpleasant one. It is often used for food that has gone bad, waste, chemicals, smoke, and other substances associated with pungent or foul odors. In ordinary conversation, speakers may choose the more direct expressions “smelly” or “stinky,” but “odorous” has a formal, literary, or technical quality that can make a description sound more precise. The word can apply neutrally in scientific and environmental contexts, as in “odorous emissions,” but its usual implication is a smell that is strong enough to be noticed and often disagreeable. It is related in meaning to “odoriferous,” which emphasizes the presence of a smell rather than necessarily implying that it is unpleasant, and it contrasts directly with “odorless.”
adjectiveHaving a noticeable or strong smell, especially an unpleasant one. It can describe anything emitting an odor, but it is most often used for foul or pungent smells.
- Having a noticeable or strong smell, especially an unpleasant one.
"The kitchen was filled with the odorous smell of forgotten fish."
"The old refrigerator released an odorous cloud when it was opened."
"Researchers used a specially designed sensor to detect odorous gases in the laboratory."
“Odorous” is a formal and slightly literary alternative to “smelly,” making it useful when describing an unpleasant smell with a little more precision.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does odorous come from?
Odorous comes from the Latin adjective odorus, meaning “having smell” or “smelling,” which was derived from odor, the Latin word for smell or scent. English borrowed the form in the late Middle English period and developed modern spelling conventions over time. Related English words, including “odoriferous” and “malodorous,” preserve the same Latin root, while “odor” and the British variant “odour” continue the corresponding basic noun.
Related word forms
How odorous is actually used
More formal than everyday words such as “smelly” or “stinky.” Although it can describe any strong smell, it is particularly common when referring to unpleasant, pungent, or foul odors.
Easily confused with odorous
Odorous means having a noticeable, especially unpleasant, smell, whereas odorless means having no smell at all.
Odor is a noun meaning a smell, while odorous is an adjective describing something that produces such a smell.