Meanings
- uncountableThe ability to do or say what is appropriate for the occasion.
I am also deeply thankful to my editor Judy Knipe, whose savoir-faire and perfectionism gave the book its final polish and shape.
1983, Anne Volokh, “Acknowledgments”, in The Art of Russian Cuisine, New York, N.Y.: Macmillan Publishing Company, →ISBN, copyright page1 more example
Dr. Brighton-Pomfrey had the savoir-faire of a successful consultant; he prided himself on being all things to all men; but just for an instant he was at a loss what sort of thing he had to be here.
1917, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, chapter IX, in The Soul of a BishopSynonyms: know-how
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe ability to do or say what is appropriate for the occasion.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe ability to do or say what is appropriate for the occasion
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Frenchsavoir-faire“know-how”
- Englishsavoir-faire
Borrowed from French savoir-faire (“know-how”), from savoir (“to know (how)”) + faire (“to do”).
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
savoir-faire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/savoir-faire
“savoir-faire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/savoir-faire. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “savoir-faire,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/savoir-faire.
Source: savoir-faire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.