fragrant

American  

[frey-gruhnt] / ˈfreɪ grənt /

adjective

1. having a pleasant scent or aroma; sweet-smelling; sweet-scented.

   a fragrant rose.

   Synonyms:

   aromatic, redolent, odorous

   Antonyms:

   noisome, malodorous

2. delightful; pleasant.

   fragrant memories.

---

fragrant British  

/ ˈfreɪɡrənt /

adjective

1. having a pleasant or sweet smell

---

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

• fragrantly adverb
• fragrantness noun
• nonfragrant adjective
• unfragrant adjective
• unfragrantly adverb

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.

Example Sentences

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

Start with brown butter — cooled, but still fragrant — and mix it with brown sugar, flour, a generous measure of cinnamon and a pinch of salt.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Evgeny dissembles: “Nothing. It is perhaps the fragrant scent of a passing track team.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Guthrie smiles as one of her young daughters places the flowers near her nose, an invitation to smell the fragrant blossoms.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

The cleaning lady is working downstairs, so at the moment I’m seated at the van Daans’ oilcloth-covered table with a handkerchief sprinkled with fragrant prewar perfume pressed to my nose and mouth.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Related Words

• aromatic
• delicious
• perfumed
• savory
• spicy
• sweet