fragrancy
Americannoun
-
fragrancies
plural
Usage
What does fragrancy mean? Fragrancy is a much less common word for fragrance—a pleasant scent, especially a somewhat strong one. Fragrancy is especially associated with flowers. The scent of something that smells good is typically called a fragrance or an aroma, while the scent of something that smells bad is typically called an odor. However, fragrance is sometimes used in a somewhat ironic or humorous way to refer to a scent that is strong and not good, as in There’s a strange fragrance coming from the leftovers in the fridge. In the same way, the related adjective fragrant is most commonly used to describe things that have a strong, pleasant scent, as in These flowers are so fragrant. However, the word can also be used in a somewhat ironic or humorous way, as in Your socks are a bit fragrant. Fragrancy can also be used to refer to the quality of being fragrant, as in This plant food claims to increase the flowers’ level of fragrancy. The word fragrance can also refer to a perfume or cologne, as in We have a wide selection of fragrances, but fragrancy is not used this way. Example: I always look forward to springtime, when the fragrancy of freshly bloomed flowers is in the air.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of fragrancy
First recorded in 1570–80
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:
Sample: "The sidewalk flower stands exuding such clouds of heavy perfume that their owners should be arrested for fragrancy."
From Time Magazine Archive
"Affections are as thoughts to her, The measures of her hours; Her feelings have the fragrancy, The freshness of the flowers."
From True Tales of Arctic Heroism in the New World by Adolphus W. Greely
Flora then from her bosom of fragrancy shook, And with roseate fingers pressed down in the bowl, All dripping and fresh as it came from the brook, The herb whose aroma should flavor the whole.
From A Poetical Cook-Book by Maria J. Moss
As Pinckney said, Affections were as thoughts to her, the measure of her hours— Her feelings had the fragrancy and freshness of young flowers.
From The International Monthly, Vol. II, No. I December 1, 1850 by Various
Pass it, to music's melting sound, Here on this flowery carpet round, Where gentle dews refresh the ground And bathe my limbs deliciously In their cool and balmy fragrancy.
From A Literary History of the Arabs by Reynold Nicholson
A slow wind, spice-laden with the faint, crisp fragrancies of the desert, swung her to a sweet rhythm.
From Success A Novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams
This delicate instrument was as savoury as its mistress, amongst the various fragrancies which it emitted, garlic seemed to have the mastery.
From The Stranger in France or, a Tour from Devonshire to Paris Illustrated by Engravings in Aqua Tint of Sketches Taken on the Spot. by Sir John Carr
I have imagined that our welfare is Required to rise triumphant from defeat; And so the musk, which as the more you beat, Gives ever more delightful fragrancies.
From The Diwan of Abu'l-Ala by Henry Baerlein
What blooms here, Filling the honeyed atmosphere With faint, delicious fragrancies, Freighted with blessed memories?
From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 15, No. 88, April, 1875 by Various
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.
