flak

noun

ˈflak 

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

Vance caught flak from Republicans earlier this year for complimenting Biden’s top antitrust crusader, FTC chair Lina Khan. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 17 July 2024

Hannity caught flak from Fox News bosses in 2018 after attending a Trump rally. —Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024

Vance’s evolving health care agenda The Ohio senator has in recent weeks pulled his health care policy platforms more in line with Trump, at times drawing flak from conservatives. —Rachel Cohrs Zhang and Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 15 July 2024

The union also catches flak for trying to dictate education policy and going beyond education matters, such as advocating for low-income housing for community members. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flak

• flak jacket

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"