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
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
On the opposite flank, as has been the case since the Xavi Hernandez era, Alejandro Balde is charged with permanently becoming an extra attacker and is almost a pure overlapper.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 11 Jan. 2026
Seagrapes, the open-air restaurant flanking the main pool, impressed with a bright shrimp ceviche and a crave-worthy smashburger dressed in Rosado’s take on Mayochup, the island’s beloved condiment.
—Amber Kallor, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flank
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Noun
Colorado has tried several players in Rantanen’s old spot, on the right flank opposite where MacKinnon typically is in a 1-3-1 setup.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026
On the opposite flank, as has been the case since the Xavi Hernandez era, Alejandro Balde is charged with permanently becoming an extra attacker and is almost a pure overlapper.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
Late on Saturday night, Bob Dylan posted a simple black-and-white image of him playing on stage with The Grateful Dead in 1987, flanked by Weir on one side and Garcia on the other, to his X account.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 11 Jan. 2026
Seagrapes, the open-air restaurant flanking the main pool, impressed with a bright shrimp ceviche and a crave-worthy smashburger dressed in Rosado’s take on Mayochup, the island’s beloved condiment.
—Amber Kallor, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 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 17 Jan. 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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