savoir faire

noun

sa·​voir faire ˌsav-ˌwär-ˈfer 

: capacity for appropriate action

especially : a polished sureness in social behavior

Choose the Right Synonym for savoir faire

tact, address, poise, savoir faire mean skill and grace in dealing with others.

tact implies delicate and considerate perception of what is appropriate.

questions showing a lack of tact

address stresses dexterity and grace in dealing with new and trying situations and may imply success in attaining one's ends.

brought it off with remarkable address

poise may imply both tact and address but stresses self-possession and ease in meeting difficult situations.

answered the accusations with unruffled poise

savoir faire is likely to stress worldly experience and a sure awareness of what is proper or expedient.

the savoir faire of a seasoned traveler

Examples of savoir faire in a Sentence

I admire her sophistication and savoir faire.

He handled the problem with his usual savoir faire.

Recent Examples on the Web

This heritage comes in handy for a European luxury goods giant hoping to merge savoir faire with Made in the USA. —Maghan McDowell, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2025

Drawing on more than a century of savoir faire while employing some of the best contemporary creatives in the business, Van Cleef & Arpels began creating a series of jaw-dropping modern automatons known as Extraordinary Objects in 2017. —Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2025

Somewhere in there, Noel Coward shows up—he’s played, with suitable louche savoir faire, by Arty Froushan. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 12 Sep. 2025

While the way the land has been cultivated has remained relatively unchanged for centuries, the building itself was updated to reflect the savoir faire of the brand. —Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

French savoir-faire, literally, knowing how to do

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for savoir faire

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware