Definition

A condition where a person smells things that are not there or has a distorted sense of smell.

Example

After recovering from the virus, she experienced parosmia, making familiar scents smell strange.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of parosmia?

No, what is it?

It's when your sense of smell gets distorted, making things smell weird.

That sounds strange! I wonder if I've ever experienced that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Parosmia is formed from "para-" (meaning alongside or abnormal) and "osme" (from Greek "osme", meaning smell). The word describes a condition where the sense of smell is distorted or altered, leading to an abnormal perception of odors.

Memory Tip

Think of 'para-' meaning alongside or abnormal, and 'osme' relating to smell. This helps you remember that parosmia refers to an abnormal sense of smell.

Visually Confused Words