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.
Examples of flair in a Sentence
Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 13 May 2026
Colleen Camp, on the other hand, demonstrates a flair for light comedy as an alluring French maid, though the role too often requires her to play second fiddle to her own enhanced bosom.
—Kirk Ellis, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
Coneflower Colorful coneflowers are usually planted in a sunny flower bed, but these perennials can also add flair to a container garden.
—Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Those two deliberately do not sound like Police guitarist Andy Summers or drummer Stewart Copeland, both of whom created sounds that gave the Police its unique pop/rock/punk flair.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 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 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flair
noun
