Standard Lemma guide

rankness

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The quality of being rank, of having a repulsive or pungent odor.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • 1578, Raphael Holinshed et al., Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande, Volume I, Book 3, Chapter 1 “Of cattell kept for profit,” p. 222, [...] the bowels of the beast are commonlie cast awaie because of their ranknesse [...]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Exuberant or uncontrolled growth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Exuberance, excessiveness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Insolence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

the attribute of having a strong offensive smell

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: malodorousness, stinkiness, foulness, fetidness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: olfactory property, smell, aroma, odor, odour, scent

Narrower terms: body odor, body odour, B.O.

6

noun

Meaning 6

the property of producing abundantly and sustaining vigorous and luxuriant growth

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he praised the richness of the soil
  • weeds lovely in their rankness

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: richness, prolificacy, fertility

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fruitfulness, fecundity

History

Etymology

From Middle English rankenesse, equivalent to rank + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Georgian: დიდებულება (didebuleba) — the property of being rank
  • Irish: uabhar — the property of being rank
  • Irish: boirbe — the property of being rank
  • Italian: rancidezza — the property of being rank
  • Latin: rancor — the property of being rank