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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
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 22 June 2025
Sixteen new boutique homes in a residential suburb of Sacramento are turning heads for more reasons than their contemporary flair.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
This satisfying Hardee’s sandwich—a combination of beef and pork—can make for an easy weeknight dinner or last-minute lunch with down-home flair.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 20 June 2025
Crafted from sapphire crystal and industrial-grade steel, the watches attempt to marry famous Swiss precision with Plein’s signature flair.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes.com, 19 June 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 30 Jun. 2025.
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flair
noun
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