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adj

putrid

PYOO-trihd

Putrid (adj) means rotting and giving off a foul smell. Example: “A putrid smell drifted from the bin left out for weeks.”

adj
1
Rotting and giving off a foul smell.
"A putrid smell drifted from the bin left out for weeks."
"The putrid meat had to be thrown away immediately."
2
Disgusting or morally corrupt, used figuratively.
"He described the whole scandal as a putrid affair."

How to use putrid

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRotting and foul-smelling, or, more loosely, thoroughly disgusting.

Common pairings
putrid smell putrid stench

Word forms

more putrid comparative, most putrid superlative

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A _____ smell drifted from the bin left out for weeks.

Etymology

From Latin putridus, "rotten," related to putreo, "to be rotten."

Origin: Latin

Frequently asked questions

What does “putrid” mean?

The word “putrid” means rotting and giving off a foul smell. In plain terms, rotting and foul-smelling, or, more loosely, thoroughly disgusting.

How do you pronounce “putrid”?

“Putrid” is pronounced PYOO-trihd (/ˈpju.tɹəd/ in IPA).

How do you use “putrid” in a sentence?

Here is “putrid” used in a sentence: “A putrid smell drifted from the bin left out for weeks.”

What part of speech is “putrid”?

“Putrid” is an adjective.

Where does the word “putrid” come from?

The word “putrid” comes from Latin. From Latin putridus, "rotten," related to putreo, "to be rotten.".

How many meanings does “putrid” have?

“Putrid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: rotting and giving off a foul smell.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial