flagship

[flag-ship]

noun

1. a ship carrying the flag officer or the commander of a fleet, squadron, or the like, and displaying the officer's flag.

2. the main vessel of a shipping company.

3. any of the best or largest ships or airplanes operated by a passenger line.

4. the best or most important one of a group or system.

   This store is the flagship of our retail chain.

adjective

1. being or constituting a flagship.

flagship

/ ˈflæɡˌʃɪp /

noun

1. a ship, esp in a fleet, aboard which the commander of the fleet is quartered

2. the most important ship belonging to a shipping company

3. a single item from a related group considered as the most important, often in establishing a public image

   the nine o'clock news is the flagship of the BBC

Word History and Origins

Origin of flagship¹

First recorded in 1665–75; flag ¹ + ship ¹

Example Sentences

The government's flagship NHS pledge to get back to hitting the 18-week waiting time target in England by the end of the parliament is hanging in the balance, experts say.

From BBC

The group includes members of the Chevening Scholarship, the UK government's flagship scheme for international students studying one-year master's degrees.

From BBC

In June, the government scrapped a flagship policy that would have cut nearly £5bn off the disability and health-related benefits bill, in order to avoid a humiliating defeat at the hands of Labour MPs.

From BBC

Conservative shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly said that Labour had "promised to 'build, build, build' but their flagship planning reforms clearly aren't working".

From BBC

Viewed from Orange County, L.A. is the flagship of the fleet of the absurd, the dreamland of pitchmen and grifters, the progenitor of wicked Hollywood glitz and drive-by shootings.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bellwether 
• crown jewel www.thesaurus.com