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
The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
European leaders, alarmed at the rise in airspace incursions and the security threat that drones pose, proposed building a drone wall to protect the region’s eastern flank against potential attacks and incursions.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
On the other juries, director Kibwe Tavares, whose The Kitchen closed the festival in 2023, will preside over the First Feature Competition (Sutherland Award), flanked by Zurich Film Festival head programmer Anja Fröhner and director Nadia Latif (The Man in my Basement).
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flank
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Noun
On the other flank, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are both capable ball-carriers, but do not possess Alexander-Arnold’s comfort in receiving in midfield and passing forward.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
European leaders, alarmed at the rise in airspace incursions and the security threat that drones pose, proposed building a drone wall to protect the region’s eastern flank against potential attacks and incursions.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
In a speech on the subject on the Senate floor in August, the senator was flanked by a placard with images of hemp products in packages mimicking snacks such as Doritos and Oreos.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
On the other juries, director Kibwe Tavares, whose The Kitchen closed the festival in 2023, will preside over the First Feature Competition (Sutherland Award), flanked by Zurich Film Festival head programmer Anja Fröhner and director Nadia Latif (The Man in my Basement).
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Oct. 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 8 Oct. 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
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