Sound-alike words
Flair vs. Flare
Flair is a natural talent or a stylish touch. Flare is a sudden burst of flame or light, a signal light, or a shape that widens out. Maya has a flair for design; a flare lit the sky.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| flair | noun | a natural talent for something, or a stylish, original quality |
| flare | noun | a sudden bright flame or light, or a device that makes one as a signal |
| verb | to burn suddenly and brightly, to get worse suddenly, or to spread out wider |
Flair
noun: a natural talent for something, or a stylish, original quality
- Omar has a flair for telling funny stories.
- She decorated the tiny apartment with real flair.
Flare
noun: a sudden bright flame or light, or a device that makes one as a signal
- The boat crew carried flares in case of an emergency.
- A flare of light from the campfire lit up the trees.
verb: to burn suddenly and brightly, to get worse suddenly, or to spread out wider
- Tempers flared when the referee made a late call.
- His allergies flare up every spring.
How to remember the difference
Flair has air in it: a person with flair carries an air of style. Flare rhymes with glare, and both are spelled -are: bright light.
Good to know
Flare also describes clothes that widen at the bottom, as in flared jeans. Anger, illness or a fire that suddenly gets worse is said to flare up.
Spot the mistake
Felix has a real
flareflair for cooking spicy food.Correct: Felix has a real flair for cooking spicy food.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. The chef plates every dish with and color.
Answer: flair. This is style and talent, so flair, which holds an air of style, fits.
2. The doctor said the rash might up in hot weather.
Answer: flare. The rash will suddenly get worse, which is the verb flare.