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flak

noun \ ˈflak \
variants: or less commonly
|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of flak

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

See flak defined for English-language learners

See flak defined for kids

Examples of flak in a Sentence

  1. He caught heavy flak for his decision to oppose the new school.

  2. He took a lot of flak from the other kids for his unusual appearance.

Recent Examples of flak from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flak.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flak

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

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

FLAK Defined for English Language Learners

flak

noun

Definition of flak for English Language Learners

  • : exploding shells that are shot at enemy aircraft from guns on the ground

  • : harsh criticism

Learn More about flak

  1. See words that rhyme with flak Spanish Central: Translation of flak Nglish: Translation of flak for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flak for Arabic speakers

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