flak

noun

variants or less commonly flack
plural flak also flack
1
: antiaircraft guns
2
: the bursting shells fired from flak
3
: criticism, opposition
She has taken a good deal of flak for espousing that view.E. J. Kahn, Jr.
When I was a restaurant bar manager I sometimes found myself taking flak from my customers for our high prices …Rob Hill

Examples of flak in a Sentence

He caught heavy flak for his decision to oppose the new school. He took a lot of flak from the other kids for his unusual appearance.
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.
The New Zealander has been on the receiving end of some social media flak this week after a viral video from TMZ swept X on Monday. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026 In that same light, McIlroy, Lowry, or any other player is absolutely entitled to share their opinions of a setup, and outside of an egregious statement, shouldn't take flak. Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 Protests in Rome have been milder than at Milan, surprisingly so after Ranieri’s exit and especially so for those who remember how much flak the old owner, Pallotta, caught for assembling more competitive teams that regularly finished runners-up to Juventus. James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026 In the past, ranching in the West has caught flak for its heavy footprint on the environment and overreliance on government subsidies. Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flak

Word History

Etymology

German, from Fliegerabwehrkanonen, from Flieger flyer + Abwehr defense + Kanonen cannons

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flak was in 1938

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flak. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

flak

noun
variants also flack
ˈflak
plural flak also flack
1
: antiaircraft guns or the bursting shells fired from them
2
: severe criticism
Etymology

derived from the German word for "antiaircraft guns," from the first letters of Flieger "flier" and Abwehr "defense" and Kanonen "cannons"

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