Savoury
adjective / noun /ˈseɪ.vər.i/ — Having a salty or spicy flavour rather than sweet; morally acceptable.
Definition
Belonging to the category of food that is salty or spicy rather than sweet. In British tradition, 'savoury' also refers to a small, flavoursome dish served at the end of a meal. Metaphorically: morally acceptable, honest, or reputable.
Beyond the definition
Savoury is the taste of substance. It is the flavour of the real thing — cheese aged in dark rooms, broth simmered for hours, bread with salt. Against sweet's seduction, savoury offers depth.
Origin & history
Latin: 'sapor' (taste, flavour). From 'sapere' (to taste, to know). The same root gives us 'sapient' (wise) and 'savour'. The connection between tasting and knowing is ancient.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She preferred her mornings savoury — eggs and aged cheese rather than jam.
The word 'savoury' carries the flavour of depth and earthiness — the opposite of the flashy sweetness of flattery.
Not a particularly savoury character, but effective — the kind you needed and didn't want to need.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Savoury” when the meaning fits your context: Belonging to the category of food that is salty or spicy rather than sweet. In British tradition, 'savoury' also refers to a small, flavoursome dish served at the end of a meal. Metaphorically: morally acceptable, honest, or reputable.
Synonyms
salty, seasoned, flavourful, umami-rich
Antonyms
sweet, saccharine, bland
Related words
Savoury vs savory
Savoury is the standard British spelling for dishes that are salty or spicy. Savory is the American spelling for the same concept; the definition remains identical regardless of regional orthography.
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
Warm Kitchen Baking Ingredients
An unnamed baker kneads dough near a loaf, pastry layers, custard, and rich caramel sauce.
The presence of bread and dough highlights the salty and fundamental side of culinary craft, contrasting with the sweet custard, capturing the savoury aspect of cooking through raw, foundational ingredients.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Savoury" mean?
Savoury is adjective / noun meaning: Having a salty or spicy flavour rather than sweet; morally acceptable.. Belonging to the category of food that is salty or spicy rather than sweet. In British tradition, 'savoury' also refers to a small, flavoursome dish served at the end of a meal. Metaphorically: morally acceptable, honest, or reputable.
Where does the word "Savoury" come from?
Latin: 'sapor' (taste, flavour). From 'sapere' (to taste, to know). The same root gives us 'sapient' (wise) and 'savour'. The connection between tasting and knowing is ancient.