nasal

1 of 2

noun

na·​sal ˈnā-zəl How to pronounce nasal (audio)
Synonyms of nasalnext
1
: the nosepiece of a helmet
2
: a nasal part
3
: a nasal consonant

nasal

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to the nose
2
a
: uttered with the soft palate lowered and with passage of air through the nose (as with \m\, \n\, \ŋ\, \ōⁿ\, or \aⁿ\)
b
: characterized by resonance produced through the nose
3
of a musical tone : sharp, penetrating
nasality noun
nasally
ˈnā-zə-lē How to pronounce nasal (audio)
ˈnāz-lē
adverb

Examples of nasal in a Sentence

Adjective a bottle of nasal spray the nasal consonants and the nasal vowels in French Her voice is harsh and nasal.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
On his website, Brecka promotes a BPC-157 nasal spray blend for $375. Sara Talpos — Undark, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026 Outside his tent, the officers left a few wool blankets and some blue drawstring bags full of socks, food, water and Narcan, a nasal spray that can reverse drug overdoses. Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Signs that a neti pot may be dirty or causing issues for another reason include persistent nasal irritation, worsening congestion, frequent nosebleeds or the development of sinus infections. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026 The surgeon performing this type of rhinoplasty must carefully reshape the nasal structure without compromising strength or function. Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nasal

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from nes nose, from Latin nasus — more at nose

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nasal was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nasal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nasal. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

nasal

1 of 2 noun
na·​sal ˈnā-zəl How to pronounce nasal (audio)
: a nasal consonant

nasal

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to the nose
2
a
: uttered with passage of air through the nose
the nasal consonants \m\, \n\, and \ŋ\
the nasal vowels in French
b
: marked by resonance produced through the nose
speaking in a nasal tone
nasality noun
nasally adverb

Medical Definition

nasal

1 of 2 noun
na·​sal ˈnā-zəl How to pronounce nasal (audio)
: a nasal part (as a bone)

nasal

2 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to the nose
nasal inflammation
nasally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on nasal

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