flair

[ flair ]

noun

1. a natural talent, aptitude, or ability; bent; knack:

   a flair for rhyming.

2. smartness of style, manner, etc.:

   Their window display has absolutely no flair at all.

   Synonyms: pizazz, oomph, verve, panache, dash, chic

3. keen, intuitive perception or discernment:

   We want a casting director with a real flair for finding dramatic talent.

4. Hunting. scent; sense of smell.

flair

¹

/ flɛə /

noun

1. natural ability; talent; aptitude
2. instinctive discernment; perceptiveness
3. stylishness or elegance; dash

   to dress with flair

4. rare.
   hunting
   1. the scent left by quarry
   2. the sense of smell of a hound

flair

²

/ flIr /

noun

1. a Scot word for floor

Word History and Origins

Origin of flair¹

First recorded before 1350–1400; Middle English, from French, Old French: “scent,” noun derivative of flairier “to reek,” ultimately from unattested Vulgar Latin flāgrāre, dissimilated variant of Latin frāgrāre; fragrant

Word History and Origins

Origin of flair¹

C19: from French, literally: sense of smell, from Old French: scent, from flairier to give off a smell, ultimately from Latin frāgrāre to smell sweet; see fragrant

Example Sentences

As an art director with a background in theater, Mary Kenny has a flair for interior design that rivals her skills as an event planner in the entertainment industry.

From Los Angeles Times

For the friend with flair, these mesh lacrosse pants are the perfect balance of comfortable and cute.

From Los Angeles Times

A flamboyant clergyman with a flair for vaping, Tedesco promises to cease “the sacrilege of relativism, placing all faiths as equal.”

From Salon

With tropical flair, the performance kicked off the three-hour spectacle, which brought the audience to its feet, tears to winners’ faces and nostalgic moments.

From Los Angeles Times

Parker Davis of Hardy Californians is a landscape designer and native plant fanatic, but he also has a flair for fashion.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ability
• aptitude
• elegance
• genius
• gift
• glamour
• knack
• mastery
• taste