What does savoriness mean?
Savoriness is a noun meaning the quality of being savory, or having a pleasant and satisfying flavor. It is especially used for food whose seasoning, aroma, and richness make it especially enjoyable to eat, as in descriptions of a meal’s savoriness. The word can also be used figuratively for qualities that make a story, idea, or experience engaging and memorable: a joke may add savoriness to a conversation, or a narrative may possess a distinctive savoriness. Savoriness is less common than the adjectives savory and tasty, so it often gives writing a slightly literary or emphatic character. Its meaning depends on the broader word it modifies: “savoriness of the cheese” refers to flavor, while “savoriness of the tale” refers to intellectual or imaginative appeal. The word is especially associated with the American spelling savoriness, while British English generally uses savouriness. It is useful when a writer wants to name not simply the presence of flavor but the distinctive pleasure, richness, or appeal that flavor can provide.
nounThe quality of being savory, especially of having a pleasant, well-seasoned flavor. Figuratively, it refers to an appealing or attractive quality.
- The quality of being savory or having a pleasant, well-seasoned flavor.
- An appealing or attractive quality, especially in a story, idea, or experience.
"The chef brought out the deep savoriness of the slow-roasted lamb."
"The grilled vegetables were praised for their fresh savoriness."
"Her dry wit added savoriness to an otherwise ordinary meeting."
Rare; savoriness is normally used as a mass noun, especially in the pattern “the savoriness of…”.
"The two chefs compared the savorinesses of their sauces."
The word savoriness carries its Latin roots literally: Latin sapor meant “taste,” so the word names the pleasure of tasting.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does savoriness come from?
Savoriness was formed in English by adding the suffix -ness to savor, a Middle English word borrowed through French from Latin sapor, meaning “taste” or “flavor.” The related English adjective savory developed through the same French and Latin vocabulary. Latin sapidus, the source of sapidity, is also a cognate in the sense of “having a pleasant taste.”
How savoriness is actually used
Savoriness is less common than savory or tasty and has a somewhat literary or formal tone, especially in figurative use. It is typically treated as a mass noun; the plural savorinesses is possible but rare.
Easily confused with savoriness
Savoriness is the standard American spelling, while savouriness is the usual British spelling of the same noun.