1
: either of the external nares
broadly
: either of the nares with the adjoining passage on the same side of the septum
2
: either fleshy lateral wall of the nose
Examples of nostril in a Sentence
My left nostril is stuffed up.
She left in a rage, her nostrils flaring.
Recent Examples on the Web
If unresponsive after 2-3 minutes, use new Narcan spray in other nostril.
—
Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
Then switch to hold the left nostril closed while exhaling and inhaling through the right nostril.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 16 Jan. 2025
Once Cohen settled, the team descended like a Nascar pit crew to take his measurements: radius of cranium, distance between eyes, width of nostrils.
—Zach Zimmerman, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Close the nostril to prevent air from escaping through the opposite side.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nostril 
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.
Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
Then switch to hold the left nostril closed while exhaling and inhaling through the right nostril.
—Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 16 Jan. 2025
Once Cohen settled, the team descended like a Nascar pit crew to take his measurements: radius of cranium, distance between eyes, width of nostrils.
—Zach Zimmerman, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
Close the nostril to prevent air from escaping through the opposite side.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nostril
Dictionary Entries Near nostril
Cite this Entry
“Nostril.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nostril. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nostril
noun
nos·tril
ˈnäs-trəl 
: either of the outer openings of the nose through which one breathes
also
: either fleshy wall forming a side of the nose
Medical Definition
nostril
noun
nos·tril
ˈnäs-trəl
1
: either of the external nares
broadly
: either of the nares with the adjoining passage on the same side of the nasal septum
2
: either fleshy lateral wall of the nose
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share