rancid
Americanadjective
-
having a rank, unpleasant, stale smell or taste, as through decomposition, especially of fats or oils.
rancid butter.
-
(of an odor or taste) rank, unpleasant, and stale.
a rancid smell.
-
offensive or nasty; disagreeable.
adjective
-
(of butter, bacon, etc) having an unpleasant stale taste or smell as the result of decomposition
-
(of a taste or smell) rank or sour; stale
Other Word Forms
- rancidity noun
- rancidly adverb
- rancidness noun
- unrancid adjective
Etymology
Origin of rancid
1640–50; < Latin rancidus rank, stinking, equivalent to ranc ( ēre ) to be rotten + -idus -id 4
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.
As Nolso opens the door, a rancid odour escaped.
From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026
"It's an absolutely rancid, horrible smell, and it just burns your throat," says Pauline Claridge who has lived in this part of Rainham for 15 years.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2025
Left too long in that environment, it will eventually turn rancid.
From Salon • Jan. 19, 2025
Poor quality oil, or rancid oil, will have a lower smoke point.
From Seattle Times • May 20, 2024
He smelled like old sweat and rancid oil.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
