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
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
Since 2001, he’s been weaving together Southern ingredients with French flair onto his menu at Santé.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026
The South’s special flair got lost in a haze of avocado toast pop-ups, reality show caricatures, and music festivals that turned into marketing conferences.
—Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
We’re focused on affordability, but also adding that flair of style, convenience and impact.
—Sandra Barrera, Daily News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flair
Cite this Entry
“Flair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flair. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flair
noun
