flair

noun

ˈfler

Synonyms of flair next

: a skill or instinctive ability to appreciate or make good use of something : talent

a flair for color

also : inclination, tendency

a flair for the dramatic

: a uniquely attractive quality : style

fashionable dresses with a flair all their own

Montreal is a city noted for its … European flair—

Bruce Minorgan

Did you know?

In the 14th century, if someone told you that you had flair (or flayre as it was then commonly spelled), you might very well take offense. This is because in Middle English flayre meant "an odor." The word is derived from the Old French verb flairier ("to give off an odor"), which came, in turn, from Late Latin flagrare, itself an alteration of fragrare. (The English words fragrant and fragrance also derive from fragrare.) The "odor" sense of flair fell out of use, but in the 19th century, English speakers once again borrowed flair from the French—this time (influenced by the Modern French use of the word for the sense of smell) to indicate a discriminating sense or instinctive discernment.

Examples of flair in a Sentence

a restaurant with a European flair a person with a flair for making friends quickly

Recent Examples on the Web To add cultural flair to your home, stop by Oyster House Antiques, which specializes in traditional antique furniture that the owner hand-selects during trips to China. —

Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2024 Crafted with your sense of style, these bespoke boots will elevate your look and add Western flair. —

Jim Dobson, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 Features like zippered pockets add functional flair and the stand collar provide extra coziness. —

Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 15 Oct. 2024 Add their Workwear Style Jacket and Dreamer’s Win Graphic Tee Shirt to your everyday rotation to add meaningful flair to your wardrobe. —

Meghan Mahar, Billboard, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for flair

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, sense of smell, from Old French, odor, from flairier to give off an odor, from Late Latin flagrare, alteration of Latin fragrare

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of flair was in 1881

See more words from the same year