What does snift mean?
“Snift” means to sniff or take a quick, tentative smell. The word has an old-fashioned or regional quality and is much less common than the standard modern verb “sniff.” It can describe drawing air through the nose to investigate an odor, as in a person snifting the air for smoke, or smelling a nearby object, such as food or drink. Although “snift” may sound quaint or literary, it can be vivid in dialogue because the short, sharp sound of the word echoes the action it names. The related noun “snift” denotes a sniff or small amount of something smelled. In everyday contemporary English, however, “sniff” is usually the clearer and more idiomatic choice, while “snift” is chiefly appropriate when a regional voice, an informal narrative style, or a deliberately distinctive expression is intended.
To sniff, especially to take a quick or tentative smell.
"The dog snifted the ground and followed the trail."
Uncommon in modern standard English and more characteristic of regional, informal, or literary usage.
An act of sniffing or taking a small smell of something.
"She took a cautious snift of the soup."
The noun is rare in contemporary use.
The plural is grammatically regular but rarely encountered because the noun itself is uncommon.
"The investigator recorded several small snifts of the chemical."
“Snift” gives a sharply vivid name to that quick, searching nose-sound we make when a promising scent catches our attention.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snift come from?
“Snift” is a less common variant of “sniff.” Like “sniff,” it belongs to a family of English words involving smelling through the nose and includes imitative forms reflecting the sound of drawing air through the nostrils. Its development reflects a recurring pattern in English vocabulary, in which short words imitate noises associated with their meanings.
Related word forms
How snift is actually used
This is an uncommon word found especially in regional, informal, and literary English. In most modern usage, “sniff” is more natural.
Easily confused with snift
“Sniff” is the standard modern word for drawing air through the nose to detect a smell, while “snift” is a less common regional or literary alternative.