savory

1 of 3

adjective

sa·​vory ˈsā-və-rē 

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

ˈsā-və-rə-lē 

adverb

savoriness

ˈsā-və-rē-nəs 

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 

ˈsāv-rē

plural savories

: either of two aromatic mints:

a

: summer savory

b

: winter savory

Synonyms

Adjective

• ambrosial
• aromatic
• fragrant
• perfumed
• redolent
• scented
• sweet

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

Chipotle Cranberry Barbecue Sauce This cranberry sauce gets a savory shot of heat thanks the addition of chipotle chiles in adobo. —Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023

Ginger snaps make a spicy base for pumpkin cheesecake, and Ritz crackers offer a savory alternative for peanut butter pie. —Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2023

Pork sausage and fresh veggies combine with a simple egg base round out the savory bread stuffing. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Nov. 2023

Foods Fan favorite foods like savory smoked turkey legs, crunchy mac and cheese balls, creamy Dole whip soft serve and crispy churros aren’t going anywhere. —Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023

The lemon juice dresses the greens with brightness and acidity, while the basil gives the cocktail a shove into savory territory, meeting the vegetables on their own turf. —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2023

Made for the ultimate disruptor, VIPs gain priority access to the summit, all activations and conversations, plus a meal ticket at our savory food vendors. —Danielle Wright, Essence, 10 Nov. 2023

After several lively conversations about worthy contenders and many inhalations of sample scents, the teams selected a trio that leans savory and pays homage to the California landscape. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023

Get The Recipe 09 of 35 Cheese-And-Sausage Quiche This savory quiche is sure to impress your holiday guests. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2023

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

See More

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

Phrases Containing savory

• winter savory
• summer savory

• winter savory
• summer savory

Kids Definition

savory

1 of 2 adjective

sa·​vory ˈsāv-(ə-)rē 

: 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