fetid
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fetid
1590–1600; < Latin fētidus, equivalent to fēt- (stem of fētēre to stink) + -idus -id 4
Explanation
If you want to understand the true meaning of fetid, leave your sweaty gym clothes in your locker for a few days. Fetid is a fancy way of saying that something smells really bad. From the Latin word meaning "stinking," this adjective has been in use since the early 15th century, which was a particularly fetid time in history — showers, laundry detergent, and deodorant had not yet been invented. Here's an easy way to remember it: "the fe(e)t (d)id stink." It's sometimes spelled foetid.
Vocabulary lists containing fetid
The Nose Knows: Olfactory Vocabulary
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!
Their Eyes Were Watching God
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Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
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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.
Fetid breath can be a sign of illness or infection, but the cause could have been anything from a tooth abscess to a life-threatening case of pneumonia.
From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2023
Fetid water has pooled in the intersections and mounds of garbage line the streets.
From Economist • Oct. 5, 2017
Fetid, crowded, filthy Deadwood wasn’t just primitive — it was primal.
From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2015
Fetid and overcrowded immigration detention centers in Papua New Guinea, and the nearby island nation of Nauru, established by the preceding Labour government, are used to house new arrivals.
From Time • Sep. 25, 2014
Arguments arose between the FAFs, the Fresh Air Friends, who wanted a hatch open, and the FUGs, the Fetid Undergrounds, who argued against letting out the heat.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
Definitions 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.
