flag

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈflag 

 also  ˈflāg

: any of various monocotyledonous plants with long ensiform leaves: such as

a

: iris

especially : a wild iris

b

: sweet flag

flag

2 of 6

noun (2)

often attributive

1

: a usually rectangular piece of fabric of distinctive design that is used as a symbol (as of a nation), as a signaling device, or as a decoration

2

a

: the tail of some dogs (such as a setter or hound)

also : the long hair fringing a dog's tail

b

: the tail of a deer

3

a

: something used like a flag to signal or attract attention

b

: one of the cross strokes of a musical note less than a quarter note in value

4

: something represented by a flag: such as

a

: flagship

b

: an admiral functioning in his office of command

c

: nationality

especially : the nationality of registration of a ship or aircraft

flag

3 of 6

verb (1)

flagged; flagging

transitive verb

1

: to signal with or as if with a flag

especially : to signal to stop

flagged the train

—often used with down

2

: to mark or identify with or as if with a flag

flagged potential problems in the proposal

3

: to call a penalty on : penalize

a lineman flagged for being offside

flag

4 of 6

verb (2)

flagged; flagging

intransitive verb

1

: to hang loose without stiffness

2

a

: to become unsteady, feeble, or spiritless

b

: to decline in interest, attraction, or value

flagging stock prices

flag

5 of 6

noun (3)

: a hard evenly stratified stone that splits into flat pieces suitable for paving

also : a piece of such stone

flag

6 of 6

verb (3)

flagged; flagging

transitive verb

: to lay (something, such as a pavement) with flags (see flag entry 5)

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• banderole
• banderol
• banner
• colors
• ensign
• guidon
• jack
• pendant [chiefly British]
• pendent
• pennant
• pennon
• standard
• streamer

Verb (1)

• beckon
• gesture
• motion
• signal
• wave

Verb (2)

• droop
• hang
• loll
• sag
• swag
• wilt

Examples of flag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Checking the app’s code also revealed a new flag—bugle.support_ultra_hdr—used to activate it. —Paul Monckton, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023

Alongside the tablecloths, the offering includes pot holders, linen napkins, and appliqué tea towels influenced by Asafo flags. —Maria Geyman, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023

Videos of the protest on Nov. 20 at Hillcrest High School, which teaches about 2,500 students in Jamaica, Queens, circulated online showing hordes of students running in the halls, dancing and waving flags. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2023

The announcement by the nine-justice court, after four days of deliberations, set off cheers among demonstrators waiting outside and waving Panamanian flags. —Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, and Divya Rajagopal, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Nov. 2023

The other challenge is the sheer volume of potentially exploitative content that Google flags. —Kashmir Hill, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2023

Because state and local flags must fly below the United States flag in all instances, all other government flags should fly at half-staff between Saturday and Wednesday, as well. —Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 25 Nov. 2023

Millions of people across Europe and the United States flew Ukrainian flags and cheered as desperate Ukrainian defenders halted Russia’s brutal advance. —Bob Seely, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023

In one video, protesters were seen climbing an area above a station entrance then waving Palestinian flags. —Greg Wehner, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2023

Verb

The song was quickly flagged as a priority, the Weeknd’s management jumped in and a new video was filmed in November. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023

Less than two weeks after the community emerged from lockdown, that shooting spree would start seeping into new, potential threats across the state, which were flagged to police, and Maine's yellow flag law was invoked. —Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 29 Nov. 2023

However, the Bulldogs were flagged for a dead ball false start, nullifying the play and allowing Coach Zach Arnett to send his punt team out. —Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 28 Nov. 2023

Vindman played a role flagging the 2019 phone call between then-President Donald Trump's and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that led to Trump's first impeachment on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. —Alexandra Marquez, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2023

In the meantime, archaeologists are flagging mummies exposed to elements and reburying them in the soil. —Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023

For example, lenders on Zelle have implemented a tool that flags risky transfers, such as those involving recipients that have never processed transactions on the payments network. —Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2023

The restaurant workers fled to protect themselves, flagging one another down to bring attention to the animal. —Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023

Badenoch and Tugendhat have flagged the issue with Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lucy Frazer, the people said, as pressure mounts from backbench lawmakers for the government to intervene in the process. —Ellen Milligan, arkansasonline.com, 20 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English flagge reed, rush

Noun (2)

probably akin to fag end of cloth — more at fag end

Verb (2)

probably from flag entry 2

Noun (3)

Middle English flagge turf, perhaps from Old Norse flaga slab; akin to Old English flōh chip

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1604, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1615, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing flag

• blue flag
• black flag
• blue flag iris
• flag day
• false flag
• capture the flag
• flag football
• flag of convenience
• flag of truce
• flag officer
• raise the white flag
• red flag
• flag-waving
• flag-waver
• flag stop
• flag rank
• white flag
• sweet flag
• red flag law
• checkered flag
• took the checkered flag

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• blue flag
• black flag
• blue flag iris
• flag day
• false flag
• capture the flag
• flag football
• flag of convenience
• flag of truce
• flag officer
• raise the white flag
• red flag
• flag-waving
• flag-waver
• flag stop
• flag rank
• white flag
• sweet flag
• red flag law
• checkered flag
• took the checkered flag

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Kids Definition

flag

1 of 6 noun

ˈflag 

: any of various irises

especially : a wild iris

flag

2 of 6 noun

1

: a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as a symbol (as of a nation) or for signaling

2

: something used like a flag to signal or attract attention

flag

3 of 6 verb

flagged; flagging

: to signal with or as if with a flag

especially : to signal to stop

flag a taxi

flag

4 of 6 verb

flagged; flagging

1

: to be limp : droop

2

: to become weak

his hope flagged

flag

5 of 6 noun

1

: a hard stone that easily splits into flat pieces

2

: a piece of flag used for paving

flag

6 of 6 verb

flagged; flagging

: to pave (as a walk) with flags

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flagge "reed"

Noun

probably akin to fag "end of cloth"

Verb

probably from ²flag

Noun

Middle English flagge "a piece of turf, a flat paving stone"