rancidity

IPA/rænˈsɪd.ə.ti/
KK[rænsˈɪdɪti]IPA/rænˈsɪd.ə.t̬i/

rancidity — noun

1. the condition of oils, butter, nuts, or other fatty foods when they have spoiled

1.名詞C1
釋義

the condition of oils, butter, nuts, or other fatty foods when they have spoiled through exposure to air or heat, giving them a sharp, unpleasant smell and taste

例句

Oxygen is the main cause of rancidity in cooking oils stored at room temperature.

uncountable noun: 'rancidity in [substance]'

The Watanabe family threw out old sesame oil after smelling a bitter note of rancidity.

同義詞
  • spoilage

    broader term — covers any kind of decay in food, not just chemical breakdown of fats

  • putrefaction

    stronger and narrower — refers specifically to rotting of proteins, not fats

反義詞
  • freshness

    the quality of being recently produced or harvested, opposite of spoiled condition

用法筆記

Used only as an uncountable noun. Frequently describes the spoilage process in food science and cooking contexts. The corresponding adjective is 'rancid' (e.g. 'rancid butter').

常見錯誤

❌The milk has rancidity.
✅The milk has gone sour.
💡Rancidity is specific to oils and fats, not dairy spoilage caused by bacteria.
❌There are several rancidities in this oil.
✅This oil shows signs of rancidity.
💡Rancidity is uncountable; use singular form only.

2. a quality of being morally unpleasant, distasteful, or offensive, especially in

2.名詞C1
釋義

a quality of being morally unpleasant, distasteful, or offensive, especially in a way that seems decayed or corrupt — like the figurative use of 'rancid' applied to behaviour, attitudes, or creative works

例句

The novel captures the emotional rancidity beneath the polite surface of suburban life.

figurative: 'emotional rancidity' as abstract quality

Critics condemned the film's rancidity, calling it cruel and mean-spirited from start to finish.

同義詞
  • offensiveness

    more common and less intense — simply means causing someone to feel upset or annoyed

  • corruption

    focuses on moral decay rather than unpleasantness; implies dishonesty or depravity

反義詞
  • wholesomeness

    moral soundness and decency, the opposite of a decayed quality

用法筆記

Purely figurative — this sense is a metaphor drawn from the literal 'spoiled fats' meaning. Do not use for simple disagreement or dislike; it implies a decayed, rotten quality. Typically found in literary criticism and formal commentary.

常見錯誤

❌The rancidity of his speech was obvious.' (used for simple rudeness)
✅The offensiveness of his speech was obvious.
💡Rancidity implies a decayed, rotten quality, not just rudeness or bad manners.
❌The rancidity of the weather made us stay home.
✅The unpleasantness of the weather made us stay home.
💡Weather cannot be described as rancid even figuratively; use 'unpleasantness' instead.