Nonfragrant

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having a scent that is absent of pleasant or attractive qualities
2. Lacking any distinguishing aroma that could be considered appealing or aromatic
3. Possessing no detectable smell or fragrance to the senses

Etymology: "Nonfragrant" is a plain formation: the prefix "non-", meaning "not," attached to "fragrant." Fragrant itself comes from the Middle English "fragrant," borrowed from Old French "fragrant" (the present participle of "fragrer," to smell sweet), which traces back to Latin "fragrare," to emit a smell. So a nonfragrant thing is simply one that does not give off that sweet smell. The prefix is the productive part. English has long attached "non-" to adjectives to make negative forms, and it is far more common in modern technical and descriptive writing than in older literature. "Nonfragrant" is typically used in botany, cosmetics, and product description, where a plant or a formulation needs to be distinguished from a scented one. Its meaning is transparent, so it needs no special history beyond its parts.

Synonyms: odorless, unscented

Antonyms: fragrant, aromatic, scented