Flair vs. Flare – How to Use Each Correctly

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Flair vs. Flare – What’s the Gist?

Flair and Flare are English homophones, which means that both words sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.

  • Flair is a noun that means possessing a knack or an instinct for something engaging.
  • Flare acts as either a noun, meaning a blaze or a glaring light; or as a verb, meaning to burn or to shine suddenly.

flair versus flare

How to Use Flair in a Sentence

Flair definition: The word flair is used as a noun to describe a discernment in taste, to have an attractive quality, or to possess a natural aptitude.

For example:

  • The pleasing décor revealed his flair for interior design. (Noun)
  • When the small child didn’t get her way, her flair for communicating displeasure embarrassed her parents. (Noun)
  • The striking outfit the woman wore divulged a flair all its own. (Noun)

If you use flair, you are using a substantive to express an inherent knack or ability for something aesthetically pleasing or with embellishment.

How to Use Flare in a Sentence

When to use Flare: Since flare can function as a noun or as a verb, you’ll want to know the denotation of each word.

As a noun, flare means a blaze or fire used as a signal or a glaring, pulsating light. It can also refer to a device that is used to do both: signal or pulsate.

For example:

  • The owners of the disabled car placed a flare on the berm. (Noun)
  • After becoming stranded, the boaters sent up a flare. (Noun)
  • The scientist noted the flaring of the sun. (Gerund)

As an intransitive verb, flare means to burn unsteadily or to shine suddenly. Furthermore, it can indicate an expression of strong emotions or for something to intensify suddenly or violently.

For example:

  • His weakened immune system caused the shingles virus to flare up. (Infinitive)
  • Tempers flared during the debate. (Past Tense Verb)
  • When he lit the match, its light flared in the darkness. (Past Tense Verb)

The word you use is largely based on its part of speech. Do you want a noun that shows a thing or object? Or are you looking for a verb that indicates an expression of action?

Determining the part of speech that you want will help you choose the correct word.

Outside Examples of Flair vs. Flare

  • The New Jersey Twitter page was created a year and a half ago but it just started to add some Jersey flair to its tweets recently. –The Star-Ledger
  • This hearty, one-pot meal of chickpeas and pasta is studded with artichoke hearts and ribbons of spinach in a lovely lemony broth for a simple, nutritious meal with elegant flair. –The Denver Post
  • “We offer free air as a service for our customers,” Lori Bruce, Wawa public relations manager, said via email. Free air is so popular, in fact, lines often form at the Wawa machines and tempers sometimes flare. –Tampa Bay Times
  • In Sonoma County, 75 miles north of San Francisco, the fast-growing Kincade Fire flared up late Wednesday and within hours covered more than 15 square miles. –USA Today

Phrases That Use Flair and Flare

There are some phrases that use the word flair or flare, including:

A flair for the dramatic: Someone possesses the knack for some type of embellishment or flourish.

  • The student expressed his flair for the dramatic when he animatedly explained why his homework was incomplete.

A flair for style: An attractive or pleasing way to dress or decorate.

  • When the power couple walked into the room, their attire reflected their flair for style.

A flare up of tensions: Meaning that an event quickly became strained.

  • The flare up of tensions between the two countries reignited during the peace talks.

Flare out: Meaning to spread something out.

  • The bell bottoms flared out at the hemline.

How to Remember These Words

One way to remember which of these words you want is to determine what part of speech is needed, especially if you know that you want a verb. However, since both flair and flare can act as nouns, you have to decide whether you are looking for something that is attractive and pleasing or something that uses a pulsating light. One helpful way to know that you want a word that reflects light is that it often glares. Flare and glare rhyme.

For example:

  • The flare glared in the darkness.

Article Summary

Is flair or flare correct? While these two homophones sound the same, they are not interchangeable.

  • Flair is a noun revealing a discerning or expressive style.
  • Flare is a noun or a verb reflecting the concept of light.