miasma

American  

[mahy-az-muh, mee-] / maɪˈæz mə, mi- /

noun

plural

miasmas, miasmata

1. noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; poisonous effluvia or germs polluting the atmosphere.

2. a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere.

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miasma British  

/ mɪˈæzmə, ˌmiːəzˈmætɪk /

noun

1. an unwholesome or oppressive atmosphere

2. pollution in the atmosphere, esp noxious vapours from decomposing organic matter

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Other Word Forms

• miasmal
  adjective
• miasmatic
  adjective
• miasmatical
  adjective
• miasmic
  adjective
• unmiasmal
  adjective
• unmiasmatic
  adjective
• unmiasmatical
  adjective
• unmiasmic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of miasma

1655–65; < New Latin < Greek míasma stain, pollution, akin to miaínein to pollute, stain

Explanation

A miasma is a cloud of foul-smelling vapor, like swamp gas. You could have a miasma of sweat that lingers in a locker room long after a soccer team has left, or a miasma of rumor swirling around a politician. As you've probably figured out, miasma is always negative. You could describe the miasma of a hot summer day, but you'd be thinking of the stench of uncollected garbage and exhaust fumes, not the smell of summer flowers. From the Middle Ages until the late 19th century, when germs were identified as causing disease, people believed that you could get sick from the miasma of everyday life — from the odors arising from poor sanitation and cramped quarters.

Example Sentences

Miasma theory, the idea that disease was spread by miasmas of bad air, is discredited.

From Washington Post • Dec. 15, 2021

The stunt was meant to demonstrate how fundamentally unsound and unreliable the Miasma was, and to prompt the public to take measures to protect themselves from junk communication, privacy violations, and social media in general.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2019

Miasma, a company in Chicago, which has been staging them seasonally for the past four years, is adding more dates.

From New York Times • Oct. 10, 2018

The now-debunked Miasma theory held the belief that “bad air” floating from decaying things, such as dead bodies, caused disease. Morticians became the stewards of public health, replacing families in caring for the dead.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2016

Although this story is concerned principally with the Man and the Maid, the Miasma pervades it to such an extent that I feel justified in putting his name on the bills.

From The Man Upstairs and Other Stories by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)