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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
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
Shoppers who grew up on disposable fast fashion are enlisting tailors and seamstresses to give off-the-rack purchases a custom fit or personal flair, to revive secondhand finds or to extend the lives of their wardrobes, according to fashion industry experts.
—Anne D'innocenzio, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Rockwood Motor Court started hosting Route 66 travelers in 1929; today’s guests stay in the same Ozark sandstone cottages but enjoy modern renovations with Route 66 flair.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 12 Apr. 2026
But his skill for molding melodies is sometimes overshadowed by his flair, even with 16 Grammy Awards on his resume.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 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 16 Apr. 2026.
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flair
noun
