olfaction

noun

ol·​fac·​tion äl-ˈfak-shən How to pronounce olfaction (audio) ōl- How to pronounce olfaction (audio)
1
: the sense of smell
2
: the act or process of smelling

Examples of olfaction 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.
But Parma, who’s spent her career studying olfaction, has a stress reaction to it. — Angela Haupt, Time, 7 Apr. 2026 Because our sense of smell can be largely subliminal, in surveys many people, given the choice of losing one sense, choose olfaction. — Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 3 July 2025 Unlike vision or hearing, olfaction depends on fragile neural pathways that connect directly to brain regions involved in emotion and memory. — New Atlas, 12 Jan. 2026 That suppression gained momentum in the 19th century; both Darwin and Freud argued that olfaction was the lowest sense, left over from our time as beasts that walked on all fours, nose to the ground. — Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for olfaction

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of olfaction was circa 1833

Rhymes for olfaction

See All Rhymes for olfaction

Browse Nearby Words

oleyl alcohol
olfaction
olfactive
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Cite this Entry

“Olfaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/olfaction. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

olfaction

noun
ol·​fac·​tion äl-ˈfak-shən How to pronounce olfaction (audio)
ōl-
: the sense of smell
also : the act or process of smelling

Medical Definition

olfaction

noun
ol·​fac·​tion äl-ˈfak-shən How to pronounce olfaction (audio) ōl- How to pronounce olfaction (audio)
1
: the sense of smell
2
: the act or process of smelling

More from Merriam-Webster on olfaction

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about olfaction

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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