savory

1 of 3

adjective

sa·​vory ˈsā-və-rē 

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

ˈsā-və-rə-lē 

adverb

savoriness

ˈsā-və-rē-nəs 

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 

ˈsāv-rē

plural savories

: either of two aromatic mints:

a

: summer savory

b

: winter savory

Synonyms of savory

Adjective

• aromatic
• fragrant

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

The Great Minnesota Get-Together is leaning into its reputation for over-the-top fare in 2026, unveiling 36 new foods ranging from savory mashups to quirky sweet treats, including Pickle Pie, an Apple Donut Ham Grinder and Dill With It, Cookie! — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

For those craving something savory, try a hearty biscuit sandwich stacked with Southern staples like pimiento cheese and Neese’s Country Sausage, sourced from Greensboro. — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026

Noun

The lamb sliders were rich and savory enough to feel far more serious than their size suggested, while the crispy okra fries dusted in chaat masala kept pulling hands back across the table. — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

On the savory front PJ’s offers gluten-free buns for its fabulous lobster rolls and a truly delicious linguiça roll for those who prefer meat. — Luke Pyenson, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing savory

• summer savory
• winter savory

Rhymes for savory

• bravery
• knavery
• slavery
• antislavery
• proslavery
• unsavory

Kids Definition

savory

1 of 2 adjective

sa·​vory ˈsāv-(ə-)rē 

: 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