halitosis

American

[hal-i-toh-sis] / ˌhæl ɪˈtoʊ sɪs /

noun

a condition of having unpleasant-smelling breath.

halitosis British

/ ˌhælɪˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

the state or condition of having bad breath

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of halitosis

From New Latin, dating back to 1870–75; halitus, -osis

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.

"Different antimicrobial mouthwashes, whether available over-the-counter or on prescription, can be used in the management of gingivitis, dental caries, periodontal diseases, halitosis, etc."

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025

After reading all of the instant accusations against Walz, I was half expecting to hear he had flat feet, eczema, psoriasis and halitosis.

From Salon • Aug. 8, 2024

Then there was the fella in Westchester, who had serious halitosis, who leaned in for a kiss after dinner.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2023

The authors concluded “Despite the limitations of this meta-analysis, we believe that some probiotics have a beneficial effect on halitosis, although more clinical trials are needed to establish real evidence on this aspect.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 27, 2022

If my mom decided that Ali didn't live up to his photographs or that he was an ogre with halitosis and no discernible sense of humor, she could have politely refused to marry him.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023