noun
halitosis
hal-ih-TOH-sihs
Halitosis (noun) means Chronic bad breath. Example: “The dentist said her halitosis was caused by gum disease.”
noun
1
Chronic bad breath.
"The dentist said her halitosis was caused by gum disease."
"Chewing mint gum only masks halitosis rather than curing it."
How to use halitosis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe clinical term for persistent bad breath.
When to use it
A medical/formal word — most people just say "bad breath" in everyday speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- halitoses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dentist said her _____ was caused by gum disease.
Etymology
Coined in 1874 from Latin halitus ("breath") plus the Greek-derived medical suffix denoting a condition or disease.
Class of 1874
halitosis joined the language around 1874.
See the full Class of 1874 →
Rhymes for halitosis
meiosis
mitosis
osmosis
stenosis
acidosis
zoonosis
cyanosis
necrosis
neurosis
hypnosis
fibrosis
silicosis
See all rhymes for halitosis →
Frequently asked questions
What does “halitosis” mean?
The word “halitosis” means chronic bad breath. In plain terms, the clinical term for persistent bad breath.
How do you pronounce “halitosis”?
“Halitosis” is pronounced hal-ih-TOH-sihs (/hæl.ɪˈtoʊ.sɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “halitosis” in a sentence?
Here is “halitosis” used in a sentence: “The dentist said her halitosis was caused by gum disease.”
What part of speech is “halitosis”?
“Halitosis” is a noun.
Where does the word “halitosis” come from?
The word “halitosis” dates back to around 1874 and comes from Latin. Coined in 1874 from Latin halitus ("breath") plus the Greek-derived medical suffix denoting a condition or disease.
