flair

noun

1
: 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
2
: a uniquely attractive quality : style
fashionable dresses with a flair all their own
Montreal is a city noted for its … European flairBruce 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 Moore infuses his curation with an editorial flair honed through years of styling and fashion writing. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 18 Mar. 2024 The two Tennessee icons have joined forces to create a legendary cast iron collection pairing the heirloom-quality of Lodge with Dolly’s trademark flair. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2024 The common thread in Lazy Bear’s changing tasting menus is bold flavors presented with flair, says the Michelin Guide. Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 The nine bakeries on this list exemplify this movement, imbuing their work with an unmistakable flair and sense of personality. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2024 In terms of the shows, DIVE (the name for IVE's fans) can expect elevated performances mixed with IVE's signature flair. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 The result is a film with undeniable flair that’s nevertheless too unfocused to appreciate. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Prebble recounted the story with flair—an off-the-page skill that doesn’t always come naturally to writers. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Angel's Trumpet Ale House: Airy gastropub featuring comfort food made with flair and a big menu of craft beer. The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024

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

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Dictionary Entries Near flair

Cite this Entry

“Flair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flair. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

flair

noun
ˈfla(ə)r How to pronounce flair (audio)
ˈfle(ə)r
: natural ability

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