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Synonyms

savory

1 American  
[sey-vuh-ree] / ˈseɪ və ri /
especially British, savoury

adjective

more savory, savorier, most savory, savoriest

  1. having a salty, spicy, or piquant flavor; not sweet.

    Plantains, though they look very similar to bananas, can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, as they take on other flavors really well.

  2. having or suggesting the flavor of umami.

    A farmhouse cheddar is combined with Italian black truffles for a distinctive earthy, savory flavor.

  3. pleasant or agreeable in taste or smell.

    Savory aromas fill the air as our friendly staff serves up a variety of rich Southwestern dishes.

  4. pleasing, attractive, or agreeable.

    The album is a savory blend of jazz and Afrobeat.

noun

plural

savories

  1. British. an aromatic, often spicy course or dish served either as an appetizer or as a dessert, as pickled fish or brandied fruit.

savory 2 American  
[sey-vuh-ree] / ˈseɪ və ri /

noun

plural

savories

  1. any of several aromatic herbs belonging to the genus Satureja, of the mint family, especially S. hortensis summer savory or S. montana winter savory, having narrow leaves used in cooking.

savory British  
/ ˈseɪvərɪ /

noun

  1. any of numerous aromatic plants of the genus Satureja, esp S. montana ( winter savory ) and S. hortensis ( summer savory ), of the Mediterranean region, having narrow leaves and white, pink, or purple flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

  2. the leaves of any of these plants, used as a potherb

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does savory mean? Savory describes the kind of rich flavor that’s most often associated with foods like meats and roasted vegetables.There are often considered to be five basic taste sensations: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory, or umami.Separately, savory is the name of several kinds of aromatic herbs of the mint family used in cooking, such as ones known as summer savory and winter savory.In the U.K., the word savory is also used to refer to a fragrant and sometimes spicy course or dish. (Such a dish may or may not be described as savory in the popular sense.)Example: That roasted mushroom dish was so savory—it had such a dark, rich flavor.

Related Words

See palatable.

Other Word Forms

  • savorily adverb
  • savoriness noun

Etymology

Origin of savory1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English savori; replacing Middle English savure, from Old French savoure, past participle of savourer “to savor”; savor, -y 1

Origin of savory1

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English saverei(e), saverai(e); probably an alteration (by influence of savory 1 ( def. ) ) of Old French sarree, from Old English sætherie from Latin saturēia

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.

Acai has been a savory staple in the Amazon for centuries, eaten as a thick paste alongside fish and manioc flour.

From Barron's

Green cardamom adds perfume to both sweet and savory dishes.

From Salon

Muffins, sweet or savory Muffins are an ideal sick-day delivery system.

From Salon

A popular savory cocktail, the Bloody Mary turned into a mocktail is essentially just a mix of spices and hot sauces.

From Salon

Spending on savory snacks fell by about 10%, with similar reductions in sweets, baked goods, and cookies.

From Science Daily

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.