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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
Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2025
Still, the director’s undeniable flair for gleefully excessive mayhem and propulsive pacing will more than satisfy those who loved its predecessor.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Luckily, this time of year centers around trends that manage to keep you cozy without giving up that seasonal flair.
—Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 19 Nov. 2025
Those techniques are used to play with diners’ perceptions of food and create a theatrical flair to a night out.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 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 24 Nov. 2025.
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flair
noun
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