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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
Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
Mitchell is an elite scorer for his Cleveland Cavaliers, a walking highlight package who combines deep range with flair for getting to the hoop, and impressive hops.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 26 Dec. 2025
Arrange it on the mantle, drape it over an entryway table, secure it along a railing, or all of the above for a touch of festive flair.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
Reisman dazzled spectators with his flair on the table.
—Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 25 Dec. 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 29 Dec. 2025.
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flair
noun
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