flavor

flavor — noun

1. the American way of writing the word 'flavour', used in the United States instea

1.nounA1
Definition

the American way of writing the word 'flavour', used in the United States instead of the British spelling

Example

The word "flavor" is the American spelling of the British word "flavour."

US vs UK spelling difference

In her essay, Apinya used the US spelling "flavor" instead of "flavour."

Usage Note

This sense is only about the written form. The meaning of 'flavor' and 'flavour' is the same — only the spelling differs by country.

2. the particular quality of a food or drink that you notice when you put it in you

2.nounA1
Definition

the particular quality of a food or drink that you notice when you put it in your mouth, such as sweetness, saltiness, or a fruity taste

Example

This ice cream has a rich chocolate flavor that melts on your tongue.

collocation: rich + flavor

The soup needs more salt to bring out its natural flavor.

verb phrase: bring out + flavor

Common collocations
  • rich flavor
  • strong flavor
  • mild flavor
  • natural flavor
  • bring out the flavor
  • add flavor
Synonyms
  • taste

    the most general word for what you notice in your mouth; 'flavor' adds a sense of combination of taste and smell

  • savor

    a pleasant, rich flavor, often one you enjoy slowly; more literary than 'flavor'

  • tang

    a sharp, strong flavor, like lemon or ginger; narrower than 'flavor'

Antonyms
  • blandness

    lack of flavor; when food has no noticeable taste

Common Mistakes

The flavor of this soup is very smelling.
The flavor of this soup is very rich.
'flavor' refers to taste, not smell, though the two senses work together.
This drink has a strong flavor of strawberry.
This drink has a strong strawberry flavor.
In natural English, the fruit name often comes before 'flavor' as a compound noun.

3. a quality or atmosphere that makes a place, event, or work of art feel special a

3.nounB2
Definition

a quality or atmosphere that makes a place, event, or work of art feel special and different from others of the same kind

Example

The old town square has a unique flavor that attracts many visitors.

figurative: unique + flavor

Tamar's music combines jazz and folk for an interesting new flavor.

Common collocations
  • unique flavor
  • local flavor
  • artistic flavor
  • different flavor
  • give something a flavor
Synonyms
  • character

    focuses on what makes something distinct; 'flavor' suggests a lighter, more atmospheric quality

  • atmosphere

    the general mood of a place; more direct than 'flavor' when describing physical spaces

  • feel

    informal; the impression something gives you; 'flavor' is slightly more literary

flavor — verb

Word family

  • flavorful
    adjectiveB2
  • flavoring
    nounB2
  • flavorless
    adjectiveC1
  • flavorfully
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

'Taste' is the broadest word — it covers all five basic sensations (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) without specifying whether the experience is pleasant or not. 'Flavor' is narrower: it refers to the full sensory experience of food in the mouth, combining taste with smell and texture. For example, a piece of fruit has a taste (sweet or sour) but also a flavor (the specific blend of that fruit). 'Savor' adds a positive, lingering quality — you savor something that tastes so good you want to hold it in your mouth. 'Tang' describes a sharp, lively flavor like lemon zest or aged cheese. In a recipe: 'The sauce has a sweet taste, a complex flavor from the spices, a pleasant tang of vinegar, and a savory quality you want to savor.'

taste ↗flavor ↗savortang

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • burst of flavor
  • full of flavor
  • flavor of the month

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'flavor' comes from Old French 'flaour', meaning 'smell' or 'odor', which in turn came from Latin 'flator' (from 'flare', meaning 'to blow'). In earlier English, 'flavor' referred mainly to smell. Over time the meaning shifted to include the combined experience of taste and smell in the mouth. The figurative sense — a distinctive quality or atmosphere — appeared in the 1600s. The American spelling 'flavor' (without 'u') became standard in the US following Noah Webster's dictionary reforms in the early 1800s.