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
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 25 May 2026
As is now the tradition before visits to Craven Cottage, supporters colonised a flotilla of boats to take them up the Thames.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Foreign leaders — and even Netanyahu — condemned Ben-Gvir’s on-camera treatment of some 430 flotilla detainees.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
On Wednesday, after Israeli forces intercepted a protest flotilla headed to Gaza and brought the participants to an Israeli port, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli minister of national security, posted a video on social media.
—Avi Issacharoff, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flotilla
Cite this Entry
“Flotilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flotilla. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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flotilla
noun
