What does smelly mean?
Smelly is an informal adjective meaning that something has an unpleasant or conspicuous smell. It is especially common in descriptions of feet, breath, food, animals, kitchens, and other places where odors are noticeable. The word is generally negative, but it can be used jokingly or descriptively rather than as a severe criticism. For example, one might describe a dog as smelly after it has rolled in mud, or call socks smelly after a long day of walking. Smelly is formed from the noun and verb smell with the adjective-forming suffix -y. The more formal alternatives malodorous and foul-smelling are useful in writing that requires a neutral or precise description, while stinky is a more colloquial synonym.
adjectiveHaving an unpleasant or strong smell. It can describe a person, place, object, or animal whose odor is offensive or conspicuous.
- Having an unpleasant smell.
"The kitchen became smelly after the fish was left out overnight."
"The dog came inside with smelly paws after rolling in the mud."
"The old cellar was dark, damp, and smelly."
Smelly combines the basic sense of smell with the suffix -y, making it an immediate, informal description of anything with a noticeable or unpleasant odor.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smelly come from?
Smelly is formed in English from smell, a word inherited from Old English, together with the productive suffix -y. The meaning “having an unpleasant smell” developed naturally from the basic sense of smell. Related English forms include the noun and verb smell and the word smelt, which has historical and modern meanings associated with perceiving odors or with melting metal.
Related word forms
How smelly is actually used
Usually informal and often mildly negative or humorous. It can describe any strong odor, though it most commonly suggests an unpleasant smell. In formal writing, malodorous or foul-smelling may be preferred.