anosmia

noun

an·os·mia a-ˈnäz-mē-ə

: loss or impairment of the sense of smell

anosmic

a-ˈnäz-mik

adjective

Examples of anosmia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

As a result, some scientists would like to see the same test performed on people who have acquired anosmia. — Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024 For people living with anosmia, that reframing offers a quieter form of possibility, not the return of smell, but a new way to engage with the chemical world through learning, adaptation, and experience. — New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026 Nearly 1 in 4 people have anosmia, according to National Institutes of Health estimates. — Linda Carroll, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024 The scientific term for loss of smell is anosmia, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought this disorder to the forefront, as more than 40% of patients reported loss of smell. — Kristen Lynch, USA TODAY, 1 Aug. 2023 See All Example Sentences for anosmia

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Greek an- an- + -osmia (as in euosmía "fragrance, perfume," kakosmía "bad odor"), from -osmos "having an odor (of the kind specified)" (adjective derivative from osmḗ "odor, scent," going back to *od-smā, derivative—with -smē, -mē, deverbal noun suffix—of od-, base of ózein "to smell, give off an odor") + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at odor

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of anosmia was in 1797

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Anosia

anosmia

Anostraca

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Style

“Anosmia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anosmia. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

anosmia

noun

an·os·mia a-ˈnäz-mē-ə

: loss or impairment of the sense of smell

anosmic

-mik

adjective

anosmia

noun

Examples of anosmia in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

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