Savory is a term widely used to describe a specific taste or flavor profile in the culinary world. Unlike sweetness or sourness, savory is a unique and complex flavor that is often associated with certain types of foods.

Pleasing to the taste or smell; appetizing. Salty or piquant; not sweet. A savory relish. Morally acceptable; respectable. A dish of pungent taste, such as anchovies on toast or pickled fruit, sometimes served in Great Britain as an hors d'oeuvre or instead of a sweet dessert.

Savory describes the kind of rich flavor that’s most often associated with foods like meats and roasted vegetables. There are often considered to be five basic taste sensations: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory, or umami.

Something savory is full of flavor, delicious and tasty — usually something that someone has cooked. In the world of cuisine, savory is also often used to mean the opposite of sweet, or salty.

savory applies to both taste and aroma and suggests piquancy and often spiciness.

If you say that something is not savory, you mean that it is not pleasant or socially acceptable:

Definition of savory adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

adj. pleasant or agreeable in taste or smell: a savory aroma. piquant: a savory jelly. pleasing, attractive, or agreeable. n. 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.