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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
Demarco Williams, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The natural and neutral-toned jute fringe rug might not be filled with bright colors, but the eye-catching floral pattern adds plenty of flair.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
The developer, known for over-the-top projects in collaboration with brands like Versace, Fendi, and Mandarin Oriental brings its signature flair to The Delmore.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2025
Take your latte to go and stroll the Foster Street shops to check out a bit of the local flair.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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flair
noun
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