flotilla
noun
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Flotilla comes from the diminutive form of the Spanish noun flota, meaning "fleet." Flota derives via Old French from Old Norse floti and is related to Old English flota (meaning "ship" or "fleet"), an ancestor to English's float. Much like other words referring to groups of particular things (such as swarm), flotilla has taken on expanded usage to refer simply to a large number of something not necessarily having to do with nautical matters, often with humorous effect (e.g., "a flotilla of rather mature-looking male models" — Jed Perl, The New Republic).
Examples of flotilla in a Sentence
David Matthews, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
The Ford joins a flotilla of destroyers, war planes and special operations assets that are already in the region.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025
The carrier and its strike group will increase a flotilla of at least eight other warships and more than 10,000 troops that Trump has sent to the Caribbean in recent weeks.
—Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
That flotilla was intercepted by Israeli authorities last month.
—Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flotilla
Cite this Entry
“Flotilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flotilla. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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flotilla
noun
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