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

When she gets to you, there are two girls left: April, and a girl with chronic halitosis.

From "Booked" by Kwame Alexander

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