WordGarden.iofragrant
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /frˈeɪɡrənt/
US
- /ˈfreɪɡrənt/
Meanings
Adjective
having a pleasant or sweet smell
Beyond the definition
If a rose garden fills the air with a lovely scent, that's fragrant. Something fragrant has a pleasant and noticeable smell. It's more than just having a smell; it suggests a smell people usually enjoy. You might describe freshly baked bread as fragrant, or picture a busy spice market full of rich smells. Think of things that catch your nose in a good way; those are likely fragrant.
Fragrant isn't limited to flowers and food, either. Writers often use "fragrant" to create strong sensory scenes and bring beauty, comfort, or nostalgia into a moment. A smell from soap, tea, wood, or summer air can stay in your mind for years, and that is where the word often feels especially alive.
The word "fragrant" describes something that emits a particularly sweet or pleasant aroma. It goes beyond simply having a smell; it suggests an appealing, often delicate scent that is both noticeable and enjoyable. Imagine walking through a field of lavender—the air itself feels fragrant!
"Fragrant" can describe natural elements like flowers (a fragrant rose), herbs (fragrant rosemary), or trees (fragrant pine). It's also commonly used with food: "The kitchen filled with the fragrant aroma of cinnamon and apples." But the description doesn't stop there. Perfumes, candles, and even high-quality cleaning products can be described as fragrant if they possess a pleasing scent.
Historically, "fragrant" is linked to the Latin word fragrans, meaning "perfumed" or "sweet-smelling." This connection highlights how fragrance has long been associated with luxury, beauty, and sensory pleasure.
Beyond its literal meaning, "fragrant" can sometimes shade into memory and feeling. A certain smell may call up a peaceful room, a family meal, or a warm evening garden, and writers may use "fragrant" to carry that mood into a sentence. Still, the core meaning stays the same: it refers to something that smells pleasant. Whether it's the delicate perfume of a blossom, the comforting smell of baking bread, or a treasured memory brought back by a familiar aroma, "fragrant" speaks to the power of scent to delight our senses and enrich our experiences.
Examples
- 1
Personal care
She wore a fragrant hand cream that smelled like orange peel.
- 2
Garden
The garden is most fragrant in the evening, when the jasmine opens.
- 3
Cooking aromas
The kitchen was fragrant with garlic and fresh herbs.
- Patternfragrant with + smell/source
smelling pleasantly of it
- 4
Food
A bowl of fragrant rice sat in the middle of the table.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Forest
After the rain, the forest floor was dark and fragrant.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- fragrantadjective