nasal

¹ American  

[ney-zuhl] / ˈneɪ zəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the nose.

   the nasal cavity.

2. Phonetics. pronounced with the voice issuing through the nose, either partly, as in French nasal vowels, or entirely (as in m, n, or the ng ofsong ).

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noun

1. Phonetics. a nasal speech sound.

nasal ² American  

[ney-zuhl] / ˈneɪ zəl /

noun

Armor.

1. a bar or narrow plate used with an open helmet as a defense for the nose.

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nasal British  

/ ˈneɪzəl, neɪˈzælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the nose

2. phonetics pronounced with the soft palate lowered allowing air to escape via the nasal cavity instead of or as well as through the mouth

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noun

1. a nasal speech sound, such as English m, n, or ng

2. another word for nosepiece

nasal Scientific  

/ nā′zəl /

1. Relating to or involving the nose.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nasally
  adverb
• nasality
  noun
• seminasality
  noun
• nasalism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of nasal¹

1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) < Medieval Latin *nāsālis, equivalent to Latin nās ( us ) nose + -ālis -al ¹

Origin of nasal²

First recorded in 1470–80; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin nāsāle, noun use of neuter of nāsālis (unattested) nasal ¹ ( def. ); replacing Middle English nasel, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin, as above

Explanation

Anything nasal relates to the nose, including a nasal voice that you can make by pinching your nose. Just as optical things relate to the eyes, nasal things relate to the nose. Your nostrils lead to your nasal passages, and if your septum (the middle part of your nose) needed to be repaired, it would require nasal surgery. Also, this word is commonly used to describe a kind of exaggerated, wheezy tone of voice that you can imitate by pinching your nose. Some people's voices are naturally nasal, like the singer Bob Dylan.

Example Sentences

Next came leg-movement detectors, breathing bands, a microphone, a nasal airflow monitor and a finger pulse oximeter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Researchers delivered the EVs through a nasal spray, allowing the treatment to bypass the brain's protective barrier and travel directly into brain tissue.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

Researchers at the CVR are now looking at blood and nasal samples from passengers, crew and traced contacts.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

However, his nasal openings could not be preserved, and he is now breathing through his mouth.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Nye, whose normal voice is cuttingly nasal and naturally intimidating, was attempting a subdued timbre, a disarming, throwaway style.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote