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⇱ savory - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

savory

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈseɪvərɪ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈseɪvəri/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(sā′və rē)

Inflections of 'savory' (n): npl: savories (US)
Inflections of 'savory' (adj):
savorier
adj comparative (US)
savoriest
adj superlative (US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sa•vor•y1 /ˈseɪvəri/USA pronunciation   adj., -i•er, -i•est, n., pl. -vor•ies. 
adj. 
  1. pleasant in taste or smell.
  2. spicy;
    piquant:a savory jelly.
  3. pleasing, attractive, or agreeable:The hoodlum was not a very savory character.

n. [uncountable]
  1. Food[Chiefly Brit.]a spicy or aromatic dish served as an appetizer or dessert.
Also,[esp. Brit.,] ˈsa•vour•y.  sa•vor•i•ness, n. [uncountable]

sa•vor•y2 /ˈseɪvəri/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. Plant Biologya sweet-smelling herb of the mint family, having leaves used in cooking.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
sa•vor•y1  (sā′və rē),USA pronunciation adj., -vor•i•er, -vor•i•est, n., pl. -vor•ies. 
adj. 
  1. pleasant or agreeable in taste or smell:a savory aroma.
  2. piquant:a savory jelly.
  3. pleasing, attractive, or agreeable.

n. 
  1. Food[Brit.]an aromatic, often spicy course or dish served either as an appetizer or as a dessert, as pickled fish or brandied fruit.
Also,[esp. Brit.,] savoury. 
  • Old French savoure, past participle of savourer to savor
  • 1175–1225; Middle English savori (see savor, -y1); replacing Middle English savure
sa′vor•i•ly, adv. 
sa′vor•i•ness, n. 
    1. 2. See palatable. 
sa•vor•y2  (sā′və rē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -vor•ies. 
  1. Plant Biologyany of several aromatic herbs belonging to the genus Satureja, of the mint family, esp. S. hortensis (summer savory) or S. montana (winter savory), having narrow leaves used in cookery.
  • Latin saturēia (whence also Old English saturege, Middle English satureie)
  • Middle English saverey, perh. for Old English sætherie 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
savory /ˈseɪvərɪ/ n ( pl -vories)
  1. any of numerous aromatic plants of the genus Satureja, esp S. montana (winter savory) and S. hortensis (summer savory), of the Mediterranean region, having narrow leaves and white, pink, or purple flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
  2. the leaves of any of these plants, used as a potherb
Etymology: 14th Century: probably from Old English sætherie, from Latin saturēia, of obscure origin
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
sa•vour•y  (sā′və rē),USA pronunciation adj., -vour•i•er, -vour•i•est, n., pl. -vour•ies. [Chiefly Brit.]
  1. British Termssavory1.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
savoury, US savory /ˈseɪvərɪ/ adj
  1. attractive to the sense of taste or smell
  2. salty or spicy; not sweet: a savoury dish
  3. pleasant
  4. respectable
 n ( pl -vouries)
  1. a savoury dish served as an hors d'oeuvre or dessert
Etymology: 13th Century savure, from Old French savouré, from savourer to savourˈsavourily, US ˈsavorily adv ˈsavouriness, US ˈsavoriness n
'savory' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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