olfactory

UK: /ɒlˈfæktəri/

US: /ɑlˈfæktəri, -tri, oʊl-/

US: (ol fak′tə rē, -trē, ōl-)

Inflections of 'olfactory' (n): npl: olfactories

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ol•fac•to•ry /ɑlˈfæktəri, -tri, oʊl-/   adj., n., pl. -ries. 
adj. [before a noun]

1. Anatomy of or relating to the sense of smell.

n. [countable]

2. Anatomy Usually, olfactories. [plural* usually: the + ~] an organ of the body connected with the sense of smell.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ol•fac•to•ry  (ol fak′tə rē, -trē, ōl-), adj., n., pl. -ries. 
adj. 

1. Anatomy of or pertaining to the sense of smell:
   olfactory organs.

n. 

2. Anatomy Usually, olfactories. an olfactory organ.
3. Anatomy See olfactory nerve. 

• Latin olfactōrius, equivalent. to olfac(ere) to smell at, sniff (ol(ēre) to smell (akin to odor) + facere to make, do) + -tōrius -tory¹
• 1650–60

ol•fac′to•ri•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

olfactory / ɒlˈfæktərɪ -trɪ/ adjective

1. of or relating to the sense of smell

noun ( -ries)

1. (usually plural) an organ or nerve concerned with the sense of smell

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin olfactus, past participle of olfacere, from olere to smell + facere to make