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
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈsnɪf tɛst/
General-American:/ˈsnɪf ˌtɛst/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
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, smell test
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An inspection of an object by smelling it, as for cleanliness of clothing or freshness of food.
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
Examples
Near-synonyms: reality check, sanity check, sanity test
But does it pass the sniff test?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: nose test, smell test, reality check, sanity check, sanity test
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A medical procedure involving a person taking quick, short sniffs which cause contraction of the diaphragm during a fluoroscopy, enabling abnormalities of the diaphragm to be detected; diaphragm fluoroscopy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From sniff (noun) + test (noun).
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
hajukoe
— inspection of an object by smelling it
Finnish:
mutu-testi
— informal check of whether an idea or proposal is credible, ethical, etc., using one’s common sense or sense of propriety
Finnish:
nopeaa sisäänhengitystä käyttävä testi
— medical procedure involving a person taking quick, short sniffs which cause contraction of the diaphragm during a fluoroscopy