aroma
Americannoun
-
aromas
plural
-
an odor arising from spices, plants, cooking, etc., especially an agreeable odor; fragrance.
-
(of wines and spirits) the odor or bouquet.
-
a pervasive characteristic or quality.
noun
-
a distinctive usually pleasant smell, esp of spices, wines, and plants
-
a subtle pervasive quality or atmosphere
Synonym Usage
See perfume.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aroma
First recorded in 1175–1225; from Latin, from Greek: “spice”; replacing Middle English aromat, from Old French, from Latin arōmat- (stem of arōma )
Explanation
Aroma is the word for a fragrant scent, one that pleases the nose in a way that makes you lick your lips. Unlike its foul-smelling cousin the odor, an aroma smells but never stinks. Want to know what aromas smell like? Brew a fresh pot of coffee, grill some onions, and fry up a few strips of bacon. Aromas make you drool. You can also use the word to describe things that don't literally smell, yet somehow seem to linger smell-like in the air, like the oppressive aroma of a brutal dictatorship.
Vocabulary lists containing aroma
"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury (1950)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Smell Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Words for Cheese Writers
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Millions of retirees are also being targeted with the seductive aroma of mashed potatoes and freshly cooked steak.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
They have a woody aroma likened to pine or juniper.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Shulaker said he took a different approach, building miniaturized sensors that capture the overall aroma fingerprint of a sample.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Its signature wine is made of another white grape, Furmint, rich and gold in colour with a dried apricot aroma.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
The aroma from the cave really caught his attention—like beef stew cooking.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Mr. Tullett develops the idea through individual aromas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
She only started adding salt to her porridge ahead of the competition, but quickly realised it "really brings out the nuances and different aromas".
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The conflict highlights an emerging debate about synthetic scents: Many hotels use them, but some sensitive guests consider those aromas as welcome as secondhand smoke.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
Barbera d'Asti, "traditionally dominated by notes of cherry and plum, is increasingly evolving toward more concentrated aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant", Garberoglio said after a tasting.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
When I come downstairs the next morning, the kitchen is already filled with wonderful aromas.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
