plural white flags
: a flag used to show that you want to stop fighting or to indicate defeat
—usually singular
Ground troops waved the white flag after the battle.
—often used figurativelyThey raised the white flag [=admitted defeat] soon after the election results came in.
Cite this Entry
“White flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/white%20flag. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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