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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.
Synonyms
Examples of flair in a Sentence
Zoë Cranfill, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024
The Lismore Essence Champagne Flute Pair is crafted with high-quality clear crystal and includes a simple yet elegant design at the base to add a bit of flair to your wedding drinkware.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2024
Inside, the cars are filled with local flair, from Peruvian tapestries (made from alpaca wool) on the bed to pisco sours served in the rear observation bar car.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2024
Habibi will have a distinct Moorish vibe, with the style and flair of northern Africa, thanks to Mark Lehmkuhl of Ghosthouse Design Group and Love Lake Studios, who collaborated on the look.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for flair 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flair
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“Flair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flair. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
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flair
noun
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