1. a distortion of the sense of smell in which odors are perceived as different from their actual quality, often unpleasant
Usage: medical term; also called olfactory hallucination or distorted smell

Examples

• After recovering from COVID-19, she experienced parosmia, where coffee smelled like burnt rubber.
• Parosmia can develop following a head injury or viral infection affecting the olfactory system.
• Patients with parosmia often report that familiar foods taste unpleasant due to altered smell perception.
• The neurologist explained that parosmia involves a mismatch between the actual odor and the brain's interpretation of it.
• Some people with parosmia find that certain scents trigger nausea or disgust reactions.