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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
Michael Cox, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
For a touch of Western flair, Buckle & Belle Boutique features stylish fashion items and even has a fun make-your-own trucker hat bar.
—Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
The Japanese marque’s latest midsize SUV looks so much better than its predecessor and has a smooth, graceful shape with just the right amount of flair.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2025
The print’s return has been positioned less as retro flair than as a new-season staple — a move Parker’s hybrid pink-and-snakeskin stilettos seemed to underline.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2025.
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flair
noun
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