Phrase guide

smell test

noun · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsmɛl tɛst/
  • General-American: /ˈsmɛl ˌtɛst/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An assessment of a subject's ability to detect and distinguish odors.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: medicine, physiology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nose test

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Synonym of sniff test.

An inspection of an object by smelling it, as for cleanliness of clothing or freshness of food.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nose test

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Synonym of sniff test.

An informal check of whether an idea or proposal is credible, ethical, etc., using one's common sense or sense of propriety.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From smell (noun) + test (noun).

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: hajukoe — (physiology) assessment of the sense of smell