savoury

UK: /ˈseɪvəri/ US: (sā′və rē)

Inflections of 'savoury' (adj):

savourier

adj comparative (UK)

savouriest

adj superlative (UK)

Inflections of 'savoury' (n): npl: savouries (UK)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sa•vour•y  (sā′və rē), adj., -vour•i•er, -vour•i•est, n., pl. -vour•ies. [Chiefly Brit.]

1. British Terms savory¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

savoury, savory / ˈseɪvərɪ/ adjective

1. attractive to the sense of taste or smell
2. salty or spicy; not sweet: a savoury dish
3. pleasant
4. respectable

noun ( -vouries)

1. a savoury dish served as an hors d'oeuvre or dessert

Etymology: 13th Century savure, from Old French savouré, from savourer to savour

ˈsavourily, ˈsavorily adverb

ˈsavouriness, ˈsavoriness noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sa•vor•y¹ /ˈseɪvəri/   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]

4. 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/   n. [uncountable]

1. Plant Biology a sweet-smelling herb of the mint family, having leaves used in cooking.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sa•vor•y¹  (sā′və rē), 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. 

4. 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. 
Synonyms

• 1, 2. See palatable. 

sa•vor•y²  (sā′və rē), n., pl. -vor•ies. 

1. Plant Biology any 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