pennant

noun

pen·​nant ˈpe-nənt 

1

a

: any of various nautical flags tapering usually to a point or swallowtail and used for identification or signaling

b

: a flag or banner longer in the fly than in the hoist

especially : one that tapers to a point

2

: a flag emblematic of championship (as in a professional baseball league)

also : the championship itself

Synonyms

• banderole
• banderol
• banner
• colors
• ensign
• flag
• guidon
• jack
• pendant [chiefly British]
• pendent
• pennon
• standard
• streamer

Examples of pennant in a Sentence

pennants waving atop the tower

The Red Sox won the American League pennant in 2004.

Recent Examples on the Web

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski won't want to potentially lose out on high-leverage relievers and squander a shot at the National League pennant and a World Series trophy. —Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025

Tower was the good-humored Padres’ general manager under whom the club won four National League West titles and one NL pennant. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025

He’s got a great girl (Kravitz), tends bar at a New York dive, and his favorite team is making an underdog run at the pennant. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 May 2025

The only team without a pennant, the Seattle Mariners, have done better this season but still aren’t winning many admirers in the Pacific Northwest. —Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of pendant

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for pennant

• tenant
• cotenant
• lieutenant
• subtenant

Kids Definition

pennant

noun

pen·​nant ˈpen-ənt 

1

: a flag with a usually tapering or forked tail that is used especially for signaling

2

: a flag that serves as the emblem of championship