rance

word

Definition

A strong, unpleasant smell or taste, especially that of fats or oils that have gone bad. Most often used in the context of spoiled food, particularly in older or technical English.

Usage & Nuances

'Rance' is rare and outdated in modern English; mainly found in scientific or technical contexts. Usually replaced by 'rancid' (adjective). Not used to describe people or non-food smells.

Example Sentences

The scientist noted the rance of the fat sample.

basic

After a week, the chips developed a bit of rance and tasted awful.

natural

There's a distinct rance in this salad dressing—better not use it.

natural

The butter had a strong rance after being left out for days.

basic

You can smell the rance in old cooking oil.

basic

It's easy to miss the rance in nuts until you actually taste one.

natural