aromatic

American  

[ar-uh-mat-ik] / ˌær əˈmæt ɪk /

adjective

1. having an aroma; fragrant or sweet-scented; odoriferous.

2. Chemistry. of or relating to an aromatic compound or compounds.

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noun

1. a plant, drug, or medicine yielding a fragrant aroma, as sage or certain spices and oils.

2. aromatic compound.

aromatic British  

/ ˌærəˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. having a distinctive, usually fragrant smell

2. (of an organic compound) having an unsaturated ring containing alternating double and single bonds, esp containing a benzene ring; exhibiting aromaticity Compare aliphatic

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noun

1. something, such as a plant or drug, giving off a fragrant smell

aromatic Scientific  

/ ăr′ə-măt′ĭk /

1. Relating to an organic compound containing at least one benzene ring or similar ring-shaped component. Naphthalene and TNT are aromatic compounds.

2. Compare aliphatic

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Other Word Forms

• aromatically adverb
• aromaticness noun
• nonaromatic adjective
• nonaromatically adverb
• unaromatic adjective
• unaromatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of aromatic

1325–75; Middle English aromatyk (< Middle French ) < Late Latin arōmaticus < Greek arōmatikós. See aroma, -ic

Example Sentences

Salvia clevelandii ‘Winifred Gilman’ didn’t do as well as the other sages and was too aromatic for his taste.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Fats and oils generated aromatic compounds and short chain fatty acids.

From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026

The dried herbs toast just enough to release their oils, turning the air warm and aromatic.

From Salon • Feb. 24, 2026

Beyond that, efforts to produce larger silicon based aromatic systems repeatedly failed.

From Science Daily • Feb. 24, 2026

She had partaken of the arts—road companies of plays and even operas, with their magic and promise of an aromatic world outside.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• fragrant
• perfumed
• pungent
• savory
• scented
• spicy
• sweet