1
a
: the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip
b
: a cut of meat from this part of an animal see beef illustration
2
a
: side
the eastern flank of a volcano
b
: the right or left of a formation
attacked the enemy on both flanks
3
: the area along either side of a heraldic shield
flanked; flanking; flanks
1
a
: to be situated at the side of
especially
: to be situated on both sides of
a road flanked with linden trees
b
: to place something on each side of
a design that flanks the door with windows
2
: to protect a flank of
3
: to attack or threaten the flank of (as a body of troops)
Examples of flank in a Sentence
Noun
She gently patted the horse's flank.
They attacked the enemy on both flanks.
the eastern flank of a volcano
Verb
the guards flank the center on a football team's offensive line
Recent Examples on the Web
Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
In Bournemouth’s rotating attack, he was mostly used as a substitute (21 times in 31 league outings) on the left flank.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
By the time the Portuguese flanked the west African coast in the late 15th century, the banana plant had already been cultivated there for centuries.
—Sophia Rey, JSTOR Daily, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flank
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Noun
The deposits that blanketed the volcanoes’ steep flanks were critical clues, Preine said.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
In Bournemouth’s rotating attack, he was mostly used as a substitute (21 times in 31 league outings) on the left flank.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Verb
They are flanked by armored bunkers and fortified weapons-storage areas, as well as airfields and railheads that link the octagons to the Hami silos.
—Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
By the time the Portuguese flanked the west African coast in the late 15th century, the banana plant had already been cultivated there for centuries.
—Sophia Rey, JSTOR Daily, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flank
Cite this Entry
“Flank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flank. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flank
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip
b
: a cut of meat from this part of an animal
2
b
: the right or left of a military formation
flank
2 of 2 verb1
: to be located at the side of : border
2
: to protect a flank of
3
: to attack or threaten the flank of (as a body of troops)
Medical Definition
flank
noun
: the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip
broadly
: the side of a quadruped
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