flagship

American  

[flag-ship] / ˈflægˌʃɪp /

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.

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adjective

1. being or constituting a flagship.

flagship British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of flagship

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

Example Sentences

Luxury retailer Louis Vuitton this year opened a ship-shaped flagship store—called “The Louis”—in Shanghai with an exhibit of the brand’s culture and history.

From The Wall Street Journal

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he had given the official go-ahead to replace his country's flagship, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

From Barron's

In Paris, it’s planning an even grander statement: a vast new flagship incorporating hotel rooms and space to exhibit art from its foundation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Döpfner would like to buy a flagship property—if any were available.

From The Wall Street Journal

What started with a single flagship undersea cable linking the U.S. and the U.K. quickly turned into a pitch for a global network.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bellwether
• crown jewel