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In the 14th century, if someone told you that you had flair (or flayre as it was then commonly spelled), you might very well take offense. This is because in Middle English flayre meant "an odor." The word is derived from the Old French verb flairier ("to give off an odor"), which came, in turn, from Late Latin flagrare, itself an alteration of fragrare. (The English words fragrant and fragrance also derive from fragrare.) The "odor" sense of flair fell out of use, but in the 19th century, English speakers once again borrowed flair from the French—this time (influenced by the Modern French use of the word for the sense of smell) to indicate a discriminating sense or instinctive discernment.
Examples of flair in a Sentence
Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
The conjunction between Mercury and fiery Mars in your 5th House of Originality ignites your ability to express yourself with flair that showcases your talent and resilience.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
The film sets some vital rules for itself as these scenes unfold, including and especially that the dancers are presented with realistic flair, and are always on the backfoot.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Lord and Miller are boisterous funnymen, with a flair for the exaggerated and the outlandish that feels born of their frequent work in animation.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flair
Cite this Entry
“Flair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flair. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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flair
noun
