white flag

noun

1
: a flag of plain white used as a flag of truce or as a token of surrender
2
: a token of weakness or yielding

Examples of white flag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Louisville leaders announce white flag conditions Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, that white flag operations will be executed in the coming days due to cold temperatures and snowfall. Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 That doesn’t mean Disney and Pixar are waving the white flag of surrender and banishing original storytelling to the hinterlands. Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune UPDATED: April 6, 2025 at 6:03 AM PDT Listen to this article On March 30, maritime law enforcement officials patrolling the ocean southwest of San Diego spotted and approached a suspicious vessel whose occupants were waving white flags to signal distress. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025 Boston recently traded away its best player, Rafael Devers, but that shouldn't be seen as the team waving the white flag. Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for white flag

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of white flag was in 1578

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“White flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20flag. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

white flag

noun
: a flag of plain white used as a flag of truce or as a sign of surrender

More from Merriam-Webster on white flag

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