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
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
Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Parkinson did make changes, withdrawing captain James McClean on the hour and shifting Ryan Longman across from the right flank.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The last time the warehouse sold, it was flanked by another warehouse and an old brick building, with a stone and slab showroom across the street.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flank
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.
Noun
Pressing global issues, including Russia and Ukraine, Russia's threat to NATO's Eastern flank and the war in Gaza will surely be a main topic for the leaders.
—Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Parkinson did make changes, withdrawing captain James McClean on the hour and shifting Ryan Longman across from the right flank.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Governor of Utah Spencer Cox speaks at a press conference flanked by Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, Lieutenant Governor of Utah Deidre Henderson and FBI director Kash Patel at Utah Valley University on September 11, 2025 in Orem, Utah.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The last time the warehouse sold, it was flanked by another warehouse and an old brick building, with a stone and slab showroom across the street.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flank
Cite this Entry
“Flank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flank. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share