aromatic

1 of 2

adjective

ar·​o·​mat·​ic ˌa-rə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce aromatic (audio)
ˌer-ə-
Synonyms of aromaticnext
1
: of, relating to, or having aroma:
a
: having a noticeable and pleasant smell : fragrant
aromatic herbs
aromatic wines
b
: having a strong smell
The peat burns with a pungently aromatic smoke.
c
: having a distinctive quality
2
of an organic compound : characterized by increased chemical stability resulting from the delocalization of electrons in a ring system (such as benzene) containing usually multiple conjugated double bonds compare alicyclic, aliphatic
aromatically
ˌa-rə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce aromatic (audio)
ˌer-ə-
adverb
aromaticity
ˌa-rə-mə-ˈti-sə-tē How to pronounce aromatic (audio)
ˌer-ə-
ə-ˌrō-mə-
noun

aromatic

2 of 2

noun

1
: an aromatic plant or plant part
especially : an aromatic herb or spice
2
: an aromatic organic compound

Synonyms

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for aromatic

odorous, fragrant, redolent, aromatic mean emitting and diffusing scent.

odorous applies to whatever has a strong distinctive smell whether pleasant or unpleasant.

odorous cheeses should be tightly wrapped

fragrant applies to things (such as flowers or spices) with sweet or agreeable odors.

a fragrant rose

redolent applies usually to a place or thing impregnated with odors.

the kitchen was redolent of garlic and tomatoes

aromatic applies to things emitting pungent often fresh odors.

an aromatic blend of tobaccos

Examples of aromatic in a Sentence

Adjective aromatic flowers can add greatly to the ambience of a room
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Yellow onion: Along with the peppers, onion forms an aromatic base to the recipe. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2024 Pineapple Express This pleasantly aromatic sativa is a cross of Trainwreck and Hawaiian. —Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2024
Noun
The broth is a combination of spicy and savory with lemongrass aromatics that fill the senses. —Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2024 Fresh basil is optional but adds great color and lively aromatics to the finished dish. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aromatic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aromatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English aromatyk, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French aromatik, aromatique, borrowed from Late Latin arōmaticus, borrowed from Greek arōmatikós, from arōmat-, árōma "fragrant substance, spice" (of obscure origin) + -ikos -ic entry 1

Noun

Middle English aromatyke, noun derivative of aromatyk aromatic entry 1

Note: Compare Anglo-French aromatic "aromatic drink," Medieval Latin arōmaticus "kind of fragrant tree," Latin arōmaticum "fragrant eye ointment" (attested in an inscription).

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aromatic was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing aromatic

Dictionary Entries Near aromatic

aromatherapy

aromatic

aromatical

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Aromatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aromatic. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

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Kids Definition

aromatic

adjective
ar·​o·​mat·​ic
ˌar-ə-ˈmat-ik
: of, relating to, or having aroma
aromatic noun

Medical Definition

aromatic

1 of 2 adjective
ar·​o·​mat·​ic ˌar-ə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce aromatic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or having a smell or odor
2
of an organic compound : characterized by increased chemical stability resulting from the delocalization of electrons in a ring system (as benzene) containing usually multiple conjugated double bonds compare alicyclic, aliphatic

aromatic

2 of 2 noun
1
: an aromatic plant, drug, or medicine
2
: an aromatic organic compound

More from Merriam-Webster on aromatic

Nglish: Translation of aromatic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of aromatic for Arabic Speakers

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