parosmia

[ puh-roz-mee-uh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a disorder of the sense of smell, especially the perception of odors that are not present.

parosmia

/ pæˈrɒzmɪə /

noun

1. any disorder of the sense of smell

Word History and Origins

Origin of parosmia¹

1815–25; par- + Greek osm ( ḗ ) smell + -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of parosmia¹

C19: from para- ¹+ Greek osmē smell

Example Sentences

Although most patients recovered their sense of taste and smell in a few weeks, about 10 percent had persisting symptoms like parosmia, which can distort familiar odors for a person.

From Popular-Science

According to preliminary research, as many as half of those individuals also develop what’s known as parosmia, which distorts scents—subbing in, say, the smell of spoiled milk where there should be the aroma of coffee.

From Time

Although experts don’t know what overall proportion of patients will be affected by parosmia, it is “probably a significant number,” said Justin Turner, medical director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Smell and Taste Center.

From Washington Post

Parosmia, or the sensation of a bad odour, may be of functional origin; it sometimes occurs after influenza.

From Project Gutenberg