redolent

Summary

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “Redolent”

Episode Date: June 4, 2026
Host: Peter Sokolowski
Episode Theme: Deep dive into the word “redolent”—its meanings, usage, etymology, and memorable examples.

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the adjective “redolent,” unpacking its definitions, origins, and evocative use in English. Host Peter Sokolowski illuminates how “redolent” connects scent, memory, and language, offering clear examples and etymological background for word enthusiasts.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definitions and Usage

• Basic Definition (00:42):
  • “Redolent” means “aromatic” or “having a noticeable smell,” although the specific scent isn’t always identified.
• Prepositional Phrases:
  • Frequently used with “by,” “of,” or “with”:
    • “Redolent with incense,”
    • “Redolent of the 1980s.”
• Evocative Meaning:
  • The word also describes something that evokes memories or associations, not just literal scents.

2. Example in Context

• Chicago Tribune Example Sentence (01:18):
  • “The store is redolent, with the aroma of warm chocolate and an ambiance evoking the agricultural roots of cacao with plants and growing tunnels.”
• This illustration underscores both meanings: the literal fragrance and the atmosphere that evokes memory or tradition.

3. Etymology

• Origins (01:34):
  • “Redolent” traces back to the Latin verb olere, meaning “to smell.”
  • It shares roots with “olfactory,” highlighting the sensory connection.
• Historical Usage:
  • In 15th-century English, “redolent” simply meant “having an aroma.”
  • Its modern use stretches to places or things “permeated with odors.”

4. Scent and Memory

• Notable Connection (01:51):
  • The show notes the strong link between scent and memory and the word’s extension to mean “evocative” or “suggestive.”
• Illustrative Quote:
  • “An extended use of redolent to mean evocative or suggestive links them again, as in lollipops redolent of childhood.” (01:58)

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Notable Quotes

• On General Meaning:
  • “Redolent can describe something that has a noticeable smell without specifying the scent.” – Peter Sokolowski (00:49)
• Etymological Insight:
  • “Redolent traces back to the Latin verb olere, meaning to smell, and is a relative of olfactory.” – Peter Sokolowski (01:34)
• Scent & Memory:
  • “Scent and memory are famously linked, and an extended use of redolent to mean evocative or suggestive links them again, as in lollipops redolent of childhood.” – Peter Sokolowski (01:51)

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Memorable Moments & Segment Timestamps

• 00:42 — Introduction of “redolent” and its core definitions
• 01:18 — Example sentence demonstrating both literal and figurative usage
• 01:34 — Etymology and relationship to “olfactory”
• 01:51 — Reflection on “redolent” as a bridge between scent and memory

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Final Notes

• The episode closes with an invitation to visit merriam-webster.com for further exploration of words and definitions (02:11).
• The tone is informative and accessible, making complex language concepts relatable and memorable.

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Summary:
This episode thoroughly explains how “redolent” enriches our language, both through its smells and the memories it evokes, delivering “a daily dose of word power” with clarity and depth.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

Today's word is redolent, Spelled R E D O L E N T. Redolent is an adjective as a synonym of aromatic. The word redolent can describe something that has a noticeable smell without specifying the scent, but more often it is accompanied by by, of or with, and means full of a specified fragrance, as in redolent with incense. Redolent can also describe something that causes thoughts or memories of something, as in music. Redolent of the 1980s. Here's the word used in a sentence from the Chicago Tribune the store is redolent, with the aroma of warm chocolate and an ambiance evoking the agricultural roots of cacao with plants and growing tunnels. Redolent traces back to the Latin verb olere, meaning to smell, and is a relative of olfactory, meaning of, relating to or connected with the sense of smell. In its earliest English uses in the 15th century, redolent simply meant having an aroma. Today it usually applies to a place or thing permeated with odors. Scent and memory are famously linked, and an extended use of redolent to mean evocative or suggestive links them again, as in Lollipop's redolent of Childhood with your word of the day. I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[C]

Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending. Word lookup.