flair

Flair is a noun and occasionally a verb in English, denoting a distinctive quality, style, or aptitude that makes someone or something stand out. It connotes natural ability as well as a certain showiness or artistry. A person with flair is understood to perform with ease, originality, and a sense of character.

Originating from the French word flair, meaning sense or instinct and historically connected to smell, the term broadened in English to describe not just perceptiveness but also a cultivated style. Over time, flair has come to be associated with panache and expressive flair in various domains.

In practice, flair appears in fashion and design as a signature touch or color palette; in the performing arts as confident stage presence or improvisational vitality; and in sports or competitive fields as daring, eye-catching technique. It is also used commercially to suggest a product or brand embodies personality and originality. The phrase "having flair" is commonly used in reviews and critiques to attribute positive but sometimes superficial style.

Flair is also used as a proper noun in branding and in personal names. The term appears in popular culture and media to denote distinctive character in characters or projects bearing the name.

See also: panache, style, charisma, knack, talent.