cologne

/kəˈləʊn/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: colognes · cologning · cologned

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A type of perfume consisting of 2–5% essential oils, 70–90% alcohol and water.

Noun

Examples

You stink of too much cologne.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Any of a family of fresh, citrus-based fragrances distilled using extracts from citrus, floral, and woody ingredients, said to have been developed in the early 18th century in Cologne, Germany.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To scent with cologne.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “cologne” mean?

A type of perfume consisting of 2–5% essential oils, 70–90% alcohol and water.

Is “cologne” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.