What does "cologne" mean?
A type of perfume consisting of 2–5% essential oils, 70–90% alcohol and water.
Cologne
/kəˈloʊn/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A type of perfume consisting of 2–5% essential oils, 70–90% alcohol and water.
- Grammar: cologne is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: eau de cologne, aroma, city, cologne water.
- Useful contrasts: countryside, odor, rural area.
- Usage evidence: I'm going to Mainz and then to Cologne next year.
How to use "cologne"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cologne" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cologne" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cologne" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cologne" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cologne" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "eau de cologne" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cologne", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A type of perfume consisting of 2–5% essential oils, 70–90% alcohol and water. uncountable, usually
"You stink of too much cologne."
- 2 a perfumed liquid made of essential oils and alcohol wordnet
- 3 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. uncountable, usually
- 4 A fragrance typically worn by a man as opposed to a woman, regardless of its concentration. broadly, uncountable, usually
Verb
- 1 To scent with cologne. transitive
Proper Noun
- 1 The largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany, on the Rhine River.
- 2 A city and town in Minnesota, United States.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I'm going to Mainz and then to Cologne next year."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cologne"?
Common synonyms include: eau de cologne, aroma, city, cologne water, colognes, fragrance.
How do you use "cologne" in a sentence?
I'm going to Mainz and then to Cologne next year.
How do you pronounce "cologne"?
Pronounced /kəˈloʊn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English Coloyne, from Old French Cologne, from Latin Colōnia Agrippīna (“Agrippine Colony”), a settlement named after Agrippina, the mother of Roman Emperor Nero; colōnia (“colony”) comes from colōnus (“farmer; colonist”), from verb colo, colere (“till, cultivate, worship”). Doublet of Colonia, colony, and Köln, from German.
Etymology 2
Ellipsis of eau de Cologne (French eau de Cologne), the name given to the original product in 1709. The success of the original Eau de Cologne inspired many imitators and it has become a genericized trademark. See Cologne.