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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
Ashton Jackson
valentina Duarte, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Of course, with Louisiana flair, the new sauce also has a dash of hot sauce.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 14 July 2025
Vin Folk In Hermosa Beach, Vin Folk offers a warm, welcoming vibe and a menu full of flavorful, shareable dishes with global flair, Michelin said.
—Sacbee.com, 13 July 2025
Garden designer Diego Suarez, who had worked in Florence, designed the gorgeous formal gardens with classic Italianate flair, but modified for the heat and humidity of southern Florida.
—AFAR Media, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flair
Cite this Entry
“Flair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flair. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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flair
noun
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