savory

1 of 3

adjective

sa·​vory ˈsā-və-rē How to pronounce savory (audio)
ˈsāv-rē
variants or chiefly British savoury
: having savor: such as
a
: piquantly pleasant to the mind
a savory triumph
b
: morally exemplary : edifying
… scandals don't make very savory reading.Green Peyton
c
: pleasing to the sense of taste or smell especially by reason of effective seasoning
a savory dinner
the savory smells wafting from the kitchen
d
: having a spicy or salty quality without sweetness
an assortment of both sweet and savory appetizers
e
: being, inducing, or marked by the rich or meaty taste sensation of umami
savory flavors
savorily adverb
savoriness noun

savory

2 of 3

noun (1)

variants or chiefly British savoury
plural savories or chiefly British savouries
1
: a small serving of food that is spicy or salty but not sweet
Those tempted toward savories can nibble on smoked-salmon or lobster-rémoulade tea sandwiches.Andy Birsh
2
: the taste sensation that is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (such as glutamate and aspartate) and has a rich or meaty flavor characteristic of cheese, cooked meat, mushrooms, soy, and ripe tomatoes : umami

savory

3 of 3

noun (2)

sa·​vo·​ry ˈsā-və-rē How to pronounce savory (audio)
ˈsāv-rē
plural savories
: either of two aromatic mints:
Choose the Right Synonym for savory

palatable, appetizing, savory, tasty, toothsome mean agreeable or pleasant especially to the sense of taste.

palatable often applies to something that is found to be merely agreeable.

butterflies that birds find palatable

appetizing suggests a whetting of the appetite and applies to aroma and appearance as well as taste.

appetizing hors d'oeuvres

savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness.

dumplings with savory fillings

tasty implies a pronounced taste.

a tart and tasty pie

toothsome stresses the notion of agreeableness and sometimes implies tenderness or daintiness.

an enticing array of toothsome desserts

Examples of savory in a Sentence

Adjective They prepared an assortment of both sweet and savory foods. cedar is one of the most savory of all woods
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
If that savory option isn’t quite your vibe, there are also slightly sweeter cocktails like the Wascally Wabbit (Ketel One vodka, Barbadillo, Licor 43, carrot caramel, lemon, and egg white) and the Folie à Deux (Tanqueray, vermouth blend, crème de menthe, gentian, and white chocolate). Tori Latham, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024 Sweet and savory food options are offered, focusing on Southern and teahouse cuisines. Kristen Kornbluth, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2024 At the launch brunch, we were presented with savory cocktails chased with Simply Orange juice. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Mar. 2024 The mix of spicy and savory pairs well with the soft brioche bun. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024 The cookies and candy chews stand in for the traditional savory snacks. Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024 Our savory almond-mint pesto may change your mind about the traditional condiment. Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024 My farm box delivered fresh peas and green garlic this week, which inspired this springy, savory morning meal enjoyed with runny eggs and a strewing of fresh chives from my garden. Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 An oval platter of slices of breast, ermine-white and gently savory, are dressed in a rainbow mess of sweet peppers, with spiky leaves of rapini. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2024
Noun
With the kitchen leading the way, this project has allowed Ginger Moon’s mixologists to get creative, combining new flavors, playing with the sweet and the savory. Natalie Preddie, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2023 Traditional English tea service, complete with pastries and savories, is back at Greenfield Village’s Cotswold Cottage. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 3 Aug. 2023 Down 1 Henna, for example 2 Certain sleep-lab test: Abbr. 3 Philosophical principle in some Han-dynasty texts 4 Units of electrical resistance 5 Ceremonial celebration of the savory? Aimee Lucido, The New Yorker, 28 July 2023 The Prince of Wales option includes several savories, sweets, and warm homemade scones, while the Le Petit Prince children's tea offers kid-friendly snacks. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2023 In addition to takeaway, dine in at the chef’s counter for a menu of signature tastings, five sweet and one savory, served with champagne. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 6 May 2022 Apples and raisins provide the sweet, while sauteed onions give you the savory. USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'savory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English saverey

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of savory was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near savory

Cite this Entry

“Savory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savory. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

savory

1 of 2 adjective
sa·​vory ˈsāv-(ə-)rē How to pronounce savory (audio)
: pleasing to the taste or smell
savoriness noun

savory

2 of 2 noun
sa·​vo·​ry
ˈsāv-(ə-)rē
plural savories
: either of two European mints with leaves used in cooking as seasonings

More from Merriam-Webster on savory

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!