redolent

/ˈɹɛd.ə.lənt/

//ˈɹɛd.ə.lənt// adj

"redolent" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“redolent” is an uncommon English word, ranked #67,785 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#67,785
frequency rank, English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Fragrant or aromatic; having a sweet scent.

Key facts for redolent
PropertyValue
Headwordredolent
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈɹɛd.ə.lənt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#67,785
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “redolent” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). redolent lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for redolent is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɹɛd.ə.lənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #67,785 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for redolent in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English redolent (first attested in 1400), from Old French redolent, from Latin redolentem, present participle of redoleō (“I emit a scent”), from red- + oleō (“I smell”). The correct English form is redolent, spelled R-E-D-O-L-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Fragrant or aromatic; having a sweet scent.
  2. 2
    Having the smell of the article in question.
  3. 3
    Suggestive or reminiscent.

Etymology

From Middle English redolent (first attested in 1400), from Old French redolent, from Latin redolentem, present participle of redoleō (“I emit a scent”), from red- + oleō (“I smell”).

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "redolent"?
"redolent" is spelled R-E-D-O-L-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɹɛd.ə.lənt/.
What does "redolent" mean?
As an adjective, "redolent" means: Fragrant or aromatic; having a sweet scent.
How do you pronounce "redolent"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "redolent" is /ˈɹɛd.ə.lənt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "redolent"?
From Middle English redolent (first attested in 1400), from Old French redolent, from Latin redolentem, present participle of redoleō (“I emit a scent”), from red- + oleō (“I smell”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “redolent”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-D-O-L-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɹɛd.ə.lənt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list