savory

1 of 3

adjective

sa·​vory ˈsā-və-rē How to pronounce savory (audio)
ˈsāv-rē
variants or chiefly British savoury
: having savor: such as
a
: piquantly pleasant to the mind
a savory triumph
b
: morally exemplary : edifying
… scandals don't make very savory reading.Green Peyton
c
: pleasing to the sense of taste or smell especially by reason of effective seasoning
a savory dinner
the savory smells wafting from the kitchen
d
: having a spicy or salty quality without sweetness
an assortment of both sweet and savory appetizers
e
: being, inducing, or marked by the rich or meaty taste sensation of umami
savory flavors
savorily adverb
savoriness noun

savory

2 of 3

noun (1)

variants or chiefly British savoury
plural savories or chiefly British savouries
1
: a small serving of food that is spicy or salty but not sweet
Those tempted toward savories can nibble on smoked-salmon or lobster-rémoulade tea sandwiches.Andy Birsh
2
: the taste sensation that is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (such as glutamate and aspartate) and has a rich or meaty flavor characteristic of cheese, cooked meat, mushrooms, soy, and ripe tomatoes : umami

savory

3 of 3

noun (2)

sa·​vo·​ry ˈsā-və-rē How to pronounce savory (audio)
ˈsāv-rē
plural savories
: either of two aromatic mints:
Choose the Right Synonym for savory

palatable, appetizing, savory, tasty, toothsome mean agreeable or pleasant especially to the sense of taste.

palatable often applies to something that is found to be merely agreeable.

butterflies that birds find palatable

appetizing suggests a whetting of the appetite and applies to aroma and appearance as well as taste.

appetizing hors d'oeuvres

savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness.

dumplings with savory fillings

tasty implies a pronounced taste.

a tart and tasty pie

toothsome stresses the notion of agreeableness and sometimes implies tenderness or daintiness.

an enticing array of toothsome desserts

Examples of savory in a Sentence

Adjective They prepared an assortment of both sweet and savory foods. cedar is one of the most savory of all woods
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Yes, there’s a jar of Fly By Jing’s cult favorite version—at once magnificently savory, salty, and tingly—in this variety pack, along with an Xtra hot version for die-hards and three other stellar bestsellers to unlock the flavors of Sichuan cuisine. Megan Wahn, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2024 Salad with Roasted Delicata, Apple, Savory Seed & Seaweed Granola, and Black Tahini Dressing Celebrate autumn with this vibrant chicory salad, featuring sweet roasted delicata squash, crisp apples, and a savory seed and seaweed granola. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024 If your giftee's tastes veer more sweet than savory, go for a classic chocolate gift set. Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 24 Oct. 2024 Those triple tier serving trays of sweet and savory treats might be the main attraction to the tradition of sitting down for a midday cuppa. Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for savory 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'savory.' 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

Noun (2)

Middle English saverey

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of savory was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near savory

Cite this Entry

“Savory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savory. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

savory

1 of 2 adjective
sa·​vory ˈsāv-(ə-)rē How to pronounce savory (audio)
: pleasing to the taste or smell
savoriness noun

savory

2 of 2 noun
sa·​vo·​ry
ˈsāv-(ə-)rē
plural savories
: either of two European mints with leaves used in cooking as seasonings

More from Merriam-Webster on savory

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