flavor

American  

[fley-ver] / ˈfleɪ vər /

especially British, flavour

noun

flavors plural

1. taste, especially the distinctive taste of something as it is experienced in the mouth.

2. a substance or extract that provides a particular taste; flavoring.

   Synonyms:

   seasoning

3. the characteristic quality of a thing.

   He captured the flavor of the experience in his book.

   Synonyms:

   spirit, essence

4. a particular quality noticeable in a thing.

   language with a strong nautical flavor.

5. Physics. any of the six labels given to the distinct kinds of quark: up, down, strange, charm, bottom, and top.

6. Archaic. smell, odor, or aroma.

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verb (used with object)

1. to give flavor to (something).

flavor Scientific  

/ flā′vər /

1. Any of six classifications of quark varieties, distinguished by mass and electric charge. The flavors have the names up, down, strange, charm, top, and bottom. Protons in atomic nuclei are composed of two up quarks and one down quark, while neutrons consist of one up quark and two down quarks. The flavor of a quark may be changed in interactions involving the weak force.

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Synonym Usage

See taste.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preflavor
  noun
• overflavor
  verb
• deflavor
  verb (used with object)
• flavorless
  adjective
• unflavored
  adjective
• well-flavored
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• flavors
  plural

Etymology

Origin of flavor

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French fla(o)ur, from unattested Late Latin flātor “stench, breath,” alteration of Latin flātus a “blowing, breathing,” ( see flatus), perhaps with -or of fētor fetor

Explanation

Flavor is the way something tastes. If an ice cream shop offers 50 flavors, each one of them will taste different. The flavor of your soup can be adjusted by adding salt — and when you add ingredients to change a food's taste, you can say you flavor it. From the flavor of food comes the sense of flavor meaning "atmosphere" or "feeling." You could say, for example, that you're not crazy about a particular clothing shop because it has such a glitzy, expensive flavor. Flavor initially meant "smell," from the Vulgar Latin flator, "odor."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flavor flavors

Instead of the mechanical rituals of the modern Election Day, it would have added a unique flavor to politics in 2026.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

Here, stock is used as a flavor enhancer rather than as a base for soup.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

That strong flavor coats the noodles and produces a delicious, equally concentrated broth.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

This summer, with the U.S. hosting the World Cup and the country’s 250th extravaganza, Hidden Valley poured resources into what it calls “the flavor of America.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Before, his mother had been the only person in the world who knew his favorite ice cream flavor.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

Inspired by traditional Indian cooking and Southeast Asian flavors, this Food52 recipe bathes and simmers sautéed heads of romaine in a delicious mixture of gingery coconut milk, fresh lime juice and fish sauce.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

Drinking caffeinated coffee without added sugars, flavors, or cream was associated with lower risks of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and some irregular heart rhythms.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

As a result, both professional and home cooks are searching for innovative ways to expand the flavors of their dishes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

But as sugarless drinks become more popular, producers will have to find other ways to to block the flavors people might not like.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026

Nancy was about to inch her way up the line when she heard a voice yell, "Jim and Barry's flavors stink on ice!"

From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene

Related Words

• acidity
• aroma
• essence
• extract
• seasoning
• sweetness
• zest