flavorful
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of flavorful
Explanation
Food that tastes delicious is flavorful. If the soup you're making is a little bland, you might want to add salt and pepper to make it more flavorful. When you eat something that's tasty and satisfying, or well-seasoned and distinctive, it's flavorful. In other words, it's full of flavor. This adjective dates from the turn of the 18th century — earlier than that, you might have used flavory instead. Anything that tastes good to you can be called flavorful, from a rich beef stew to a ripe mango to a perfectly buttery piece of toast.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For several weeks each year, ethnic Tibetans in this village pluck matsutake mushrooms, a flavorful fungus that is believed to boast medicinal properties—and can make fortunes in this less-developed corner of China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
“That allows you to quickly develop a flavorful crust while keeping the inside moist,” Tsugawa said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
The pastels—reminiscent of empanadas—were filled with beef and vegetables and served with a flavorful sauce.
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2026
Here are some flavorful takeaways — small yet memorable — that stick in mind from our several reporters in the room on Sunday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2026
Angelo recommended slowly braising the leg, in his opinion the most flavorful cut.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.