rancid

[ ran-sid ]

adjective

1. having a rank, unpleasant, stale smell or taste, as through decomposition, especially of fats or oils:

   rancid butter.

2. (of an odor or taste) rank, unpleasant, and stale:

   a rancid smell.

3. offensive or nasty; disagreeable.

rancid

/ ˈrænsɪd; rænˈsɪdɪtɪ /

adjective

1. (of butter, bacon, etc) having an unpleasant stale taste or smell as the result of decomposition
2. (of a taste or smell) rank or sour; stale

Derived Forms

• rancidity, noun

Other Words From

• rancid·ly adverb
• rancid·ness ran·cidi·ty noun
• un·rancid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rancid¹

1640–50; < Latin rancidus rank, stinking, equivalent to ranc ( ēre ) to be rotten + -idus -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of rancid¹

C17: from Latin rancidus rank, from rancēre to stink

Example Sentences

The American right has been captured by a self-dealing cadre of liars and crackpots determined to make epistemic war on journalists, scholars, and anyone else whose pesky adherence to facts and logic might hamper the implementation of their rancid political project.

From Slate

A pungent, fishy rancid odor has been wafting through the coastal air in Los Angeles this week, an unfortunate consequence of beautiful bioluminescent algae that has graced local beaches for a fortnight.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps Robinson's big mistake is refusing to own his rancid commentary.

From Salon

The following month, one inspector said they found “ample amounts of blood in puddles on the floor” and a “rancid smell” throughout a cooler used at the plant.

From Salon

In addition to Rancid and the Linda Lindas, Saturday’s opening acts included the Smashing Pumpkins, another ’90s rock band that decades ago seemed to share little with Green Day — one was prog, one was punk — but today can fit comfortably next to any group built around old-fashioned guitars.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contaminated
• disagreeable
• fetid
• moldy
• musty
• polluted
• putrid
• smelly
• soured
• stale
• tainted