rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryhalitosisBad breath
noun

halitosis

hal-ih-TOH-sis/ˌhælɪˈtəʊsɪs/

Persistent unpleasant breath.

Concerned about halitosis, the man checks his breath with a cupped hand.

Man checks his own breath with cupped hand and mildly concerned expression.
Etymology
halitLatinbreath
+osisGreekmedical condition

The Latin noun for breath combines with a medical condition ending to give bad breath a clinical name. The compound treats unpleasant breath odor as a condition.

In context

EFP European Federation of Periodontology4:51
my presentation is going to be about treatment of halitosis so it's very real complex issue to cover
Halitosis, big issue and big taboo - Marc Quirynen & Silvia Roldán

More examples

  • The article discussed common causes of halitosis.
  • The clinician assessed the complaint of halitosis.
  • The brochure used halitosis as the term for unpleasant breath.

Forms

halitosis

Similar words

bad breath
Bad breath is the plain-language equivalent for halitosis.