Montreal is a city noted for its … European flair—Bruce Minorgan
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.
a restaurant with a European flair
a person with a flair for making friends quickly
Recent Examples on the WebThe lace trim on the straps adds a touch of flair, while the padded design ensures ample support.—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2024 With a 14-ounce capacity, fun geometric design, and a transparent pink color, these glasses are perfect for anyone that wants to add a touch of retro flair to their cabinet shelves.—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 16 July 2024 This furniture piece is meant to resemble the iconic Moai statues of Easter Island, adding a unique flair to your living space.—Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2024 The brand is no stranger to releasing the watch of the summer filled with bright colors, lightweight materials, and the unique sporty flair that’s instantly recognizable as Richard Mille.—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 14 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for flair
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flair.' 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
French, literally, sense of smell, from Old French, odor, from flairier to give off an odor, from Late Latin flagrare, alteration of Latin fragrare
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