Definition

A condition where a person has bad-smelling breath.

Example

Many people are embarrassed by halitosis and seek ways to treat it.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of halitosis?

Yeah, it's that condition where someone's breath smells really bad, right?

Exactly! I read that it can be caused by poor dental hygiene.

That makes sense; brushing regularly should help avoid halitosis.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Halitosis is formed from "halitus" (from Latin, meaning breath) and the suffix "-osis" (meaning condition or disease). The word refers to a condition related to bad breath.

Memory Tip

Think of 'halitus' meaning breath, and '-osis' indicating a condition — this helps you remember that halitosis refers to a condition of bad breath.

Visually Confused Words