flair

American  

[flair] / flɛər /

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.

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flair ¹ British  

/ 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

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flair ² British  

/ flIr /

noun

1. a Scot word for floor

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Etymology

Origin of flair

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; see origin at fragrant

Explanation

Use the word flair to refer to someone’s knack or natural talent for something. Someone might have a flair for throwing fantastic parties, or a flair for solving complex math problems. Something or someone with flair is flashy, catchy and full of energy. But oddly enough, flair meant "odor" when it originated in the mid 14th century. It wasn’t until 1925 that the word came to mean a distinctive talent, elegant style or dashing ability. So maybe think of someone absolutely reeking of style and panache — but in a good way.

Example Sentences

For a little extra flair toast some baguette wedges to dip into the savory mixture.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

In the weeks leading to Thursday's curtain call, 62-year-old Colbert has at times cut a subdued figure, lacking some of his usual cheerful flair.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

To add journalistic flair, interview friends and family members and quote them.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Shakhtar have always blended South American flair with homegrown talents from their academy - the £89 million sale of Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea in 2023 showed that can be a profitable avenue as well.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Supervising this entire phase of the operation was a medical officer with a flair for accounting who okayed pulses and checked the figures of the tally clerk.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Related Words

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