Savory
adjective /ˈseɪvəri/ — Having a pleasant, not sweet, flavor — the taste of depth and umami satisfaction.
Definition
Having an appetizing taste or smell; (of food) belonging to the category of salty or non-sweet food; morally wholesome or reputable.
Beyond the definition
Savory is the word for the kind of satisfaction that isn't sweet — the deep, complex pleasure of things that nourish rather than delight. The word also carries its social meaning: a savory reputation is one of substance, not charm.
Origin & history
From Old French savoure — tasty (from Latin saporatus: well-flavored, from sapor: taste). What has good taste — the Latin sapor shares a root with sapientia (wisdom): taste and wisdom share an origin in knowing.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The broth was savory in the way that takes hours of slow cooking — deep and complete.
She preferred savory to sweet in all things: food, conversation, people.
Savory and sophisticated are related by temperament — both favor depth over surface pleasure.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Savory” when the meaning fits your context: Having an appetizing taste or smell; (of food) belonging to the category of salty or non-sweet food; morally wholesome or reputable.
Synonyms
flavorful, tasty, piquant, rich, appetizing
Antonyms
sweet, bland, insipid
Related words
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Savouring Rich Food
An adult dips bread into a rich, simmering sauce, their face showing total, quiet satisfaction in the flavor.
The rich, simmering sauce clearly represents the savory category of food, focusing on appetizing, non-sweet flavors. The person's expression highlights the moral and sensory wholesomeness of enjoying a well-prepared meal, underscoring the deep satisfaction found in savory nourishment.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Savory" mean?
Savory is adjective meaning: Having a pleasant, not sweet, flavor — the taste of depth and umami satisfaction.. Having an appetizing taste or smell; (of food) belonging to the category of salty or non-sweet food; morally wholesome or reputable.
Where does the word "Savory" come from?
From Old French savoure — tasty (from Latin saporatus: well-flavored, from sapor: taste). What has good taste — the Latin sapor shares a root with sapientia (wisdom): taste and wisdom share an origin in knowing.