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olfaction

American  
[ol-fak-shuhn, ohl-] / ɒlˈfæk ʃən, oʊl- /

noun

  1. the act of smelling.

  2. the sense of smell.


olfaction British  
/ ɒlˈfækʃən /

noun

  1. the sense of smell

  2. the act or function of smelling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of olfaction

1840–50; < Latin olfact ( us ) past participle of olfacere to smell ( see olfactory) + -ion

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.

Perhaps not, if olfaction and sight are closely linked.

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2025

The physical co-location found between olfaction and sight that Mormann’s team found in the olfactory cortex may be part of the physical apparatus behind such crossmodality.

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2025

"Understanding how olfaction mediates our relationships with the natural world and the benefits we receive from it are multi-disciplinary undertakings," said Bratman.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2024

"But there is so much more to learn. We are proposing a framework, informed by important research from many others, on how to investigate the intimate links between olfaction, nature and human well-being."

From Science Daily • May 15, 2024

The theories to explain olfaction are as numerous and complex as those for immunologic sensing.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas