noun
Uncommon
odor
OH-duh
Odor (noun) means a smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant. Example: “A strong odor of garlic filled the kitchen.”
noun
1
A smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant.
"A strong odor of garlic filled the kitchen."
"The gym bag had developed a distinctly unpleasant odor."
How to use odor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA smell — the word itself is neutral, but it is often used for unpleasant smells.
UK vs US
American spelling; British English usually writes this as "odour".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a strong odor
a foul odor
body odor
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Word forms
- Plural
- odors
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A strong _____ of garlic filled the kitchen.
Etymology
From Latin odor, "smell".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for odor
See all rhymes for odor →Frequently asked questions
What does “odor” mean?
The word “odor” means a smell, whether pleasant or unpleasant. In plain terms, a smell — the word itself is neutral, but it is often used for unpleasant smells.
How do you pronounce “odor”?
“Odor” is pronounced OH-duh (/ˈoʊdəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “odor” in a sentence?
Here is “odor” used in a sentence: “A strong odor of garlic filled the kitchen.”
What part of speech is “odor”?
“Odor” is a noun.
Where does the word “odor” come from?
The word “odor” comes from Latin. From Latin odor, "smell".
Is “odor” a common word?
“Odor” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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