fragrant
Americanadjective
-
having a pleasant scent or aroma; sweet-smelling; sweet-scented.
a fragrant rose.
- Antonyms:
- noisome, malodorous
-
delightful; pleasant.
fragrant memories.
adjective
Usage
What does fragrant mean? Fragrant is most commonly used to describe things that have a pleasant scent, especially a strong one, as in These flowers are so fragrant. It can also be used to describe the scent itself. Things that smell good are typically described as fragrant or aromatic, while things that smell bad might be described with the words smelly or stinky or the more formal terms odorous and odoriferous. The word fragrant can also be used in a somewhat ironic or humorous way to refer to things that do not smell good, as in Your socks are a bit fragrant. The related noun fragrance refers to a pleasant scent, especially a somewhat strong one. Fragrance is especially associated with flowers. Example: I always look forward to springtime, when the fragrant scent of freshly bloomed flowers fills the air.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fragrant
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin frāgrant- (stem of frāgrāns ), present participle of frāgrāre to smell sweet
Explanation
Something that is fragrant has a nice smell. What makes a smell nice is subjective, of course. You might find a bowl of dried lavender to be fragrant, but your dog might prefer a pile of horse poop. Fragrant things emit good smells, like flowers, trees, or cooking. Maybe you find fresh cut grass fragrant, or the smell of summer rain on asphalt. When a smell gets too intense, however, it loses its fragrancy. Someone doused in cologne has bypassed fragrancy for noxiousness. But he’s right on one count: the people we are attracted to are almost always fragrant to us.
Vocabulary lists containing fragrant
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!
Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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.
Once everything had collapsed into a jammy, fragrant base, I added a splash of water and a little bouillon to loosen the sauce into something stew-adjacent before cracking eggs directly into the skillet.
From Salon • May 12, 2026
It also said florists could employ staff to sell fragrant lily of the valley, which is traditionally sold on Labour Day in France.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
There are five infinity fountains, also clad in carvings, punctuating the space while fragrant native plants perfume the warm, dry L.A. air, identified by information cards written in Halsey’s recognizable script.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
Let onions, garlic or ginger sizzle until fragrant, then add your spices directly to the oil so they toast and release their full character.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
Sunlight streamed through the high window of a chamber pleasantly cool and fragrant.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
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.
