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; fragrant

Example Sentences

And, in what could be a worrying sign for the government, some of them appear to have a flair for drama, too.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Schlosberg conducted from the keyboard; his orchestration for three winds, three strings and harp had his usual flair for exactly the right instrument and texture at the right time.

From The Wall Street Journal

Matt pops in a VHS tape of “Back to the Future” and gets to work, tinkering with the RV in their backyard to give it the proper Zemeckian flair.

From The Wall Street Journal

The former elite trampoline gymnast put an elegant flair on the skill, splitting her legs in the air and landing on one skate.

From Los Angeles Times

He made a whimpering sound and held his leg with a dramatic flair, as if Danny had wounded him mortally.

From Literature

Related Words

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