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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
Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
The casual jeans have a raw-edge for a cool-girl flair.
—Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026
Turn the Corner One of the more dramatic transformations, the kitchen was opened up to include a breakfast nook that has contemporary flair.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
True to her signature flair for whimsy, Samuel brought in lots of playful elements featuring warm colors, bright patterns, and contemporary silhouettes.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flair
Cite this Entry
“Flair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flair. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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flair
noun
