Montreal is a city noted for its … European flair—Bruce Minorgan
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.
a restaurant with a European flair
a person with a flair for making friends quickly
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By Kimberly Quiros, New York Combining Colombian heritage with New York flair, MyPerlitas is founder Kimberly Quiros’ love letter to the women in her family.—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025 The dining car turns out fine delicacies with Italian flair, while the lounge car hops with finger-snapping tunes by a piano, saxophone, clarinet trio.—Eleanor Flagler Hardy, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025 Boutique Jack-O’-Lanterns Door Mat Add fall flair to doorways with this coir mat that has an inviting pumpkin design.—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025 Adding fun, unexpected touches, like three oversized bows down the front, instantly gives the classic piece more flair and ups the style.—Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for flair
Word History
Etymology
French, literally, sense of smell, from Old French, odor, from flairier to give off an odor, from Late Latin flagrare, alteration of Latin fragrare
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