noun
Uncommon
flair
fleh-uh
Flair (noun) means a natural talent or instinctive skill for doing something well. Example: “She has a real flair for design.”
noun
1
A natural talent or instinctive skill for doing something well.
"She has a real flair for design."
"He cooks with real flair, even with simple ingredients."
2
A stylish or distinctive quality.
"The restaurant decorates every dish with a bit of flair."
How to use flair
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA natural gift for doing something with style, or the stylish quality itself.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with flare (a burst of light or flame, or trousers that widen at the bottom) — they sound identical but are unrelated in modern use.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a flair for something
with flair
natural flair
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Word forms
- Plural
- flairs
- Third person singular
- flairs
- Past tense
- flaired
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She has a real _____ for design.
Etymology
From Old French flair, "scent, smell," from flairier, "to smell" — originally about a keen sense of smell before it came to mean a knack or style.
Related words
Rhymes for flair
See all rhymes for flair →Frequently asked questions
What does “flair” mean?
The word “flair” means a natural talent or instinctive skill for doing something well. In plain terms, a natural gift for doing something with style, or the stylish quality itself.
How do you pronounce “flair”?
“Flair” is pronounced fleh-uh (/flɛɚ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “flair” in a sentence?
Here is “flair” used in a sentence: “She has a real flair for design.”
What part of speech is “flair”?
“Flair” is a noun.
Where does the word “flair” come from?
The word “flair” comes from Old French. From Old French flair, "scent, smell," from flairier, "to smell" — originally about a keen sense of smell before it came to mean a knack or style.
Is “flair” a common word?
“Flair” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “flair” have?
“Flair” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a natural talent or instinctive skill for doing something well.
What is the difference between flair and flare?
Flair means a natural talent or stylish quality, as in "a flair for design," while flare refers to a bright flame or a shape that widens gradually, as in a signal flare or flared trousers. The two are homophones but unrelated in meaning and spelled differently.
What is the difference between flair and talent?
Talent usually refers to a raw underlying ability, while flair emphasizes the distinctive, stylish way that ability is expressed. Someone can have talent for cooking but flair specifically describes doing it with noticeable style and flourish.
Can "flair" describe a personal style rather than a skill?
Yes, flair can also mean a stylish or distinctive quality independent of skill, such as dressing "with flair." This sense focuses on visual or aesthetic distinctiveness rather than ability.
