flank

[flangk]

noun

1. the side of an animal or a person between the ribs and hip.

2. the thin piece of flesh constituting this part.

3. a slice of meat from the flank of an animal.

4. the side of anything, as of a building.

5. Military, Navy.,  the extreme right or left side of an army or fleet, or a subdivision of an army or fleet.

6. Fortification.

   1. the right or left side of a work or fortification.

   2. the part of a bastion that extends from the curtain to the face and protects the curtain and the opposite face.

7. Machinery.,  (on a screw thread or the like) either of the two vertical inclined surfaces between the crest and the root.

verb (used with object)

1. to stand or be placed or posted at the flank or side of.

   Synonyms: border, skirt, edge, line

2. to defend or guard at the flank.

3. Military.,  to menace or attack the flank of.

4. to pass around or turn the flank of.

verb (used without object)

1. to occupy a position at the flank or side.

2. to present the flank or side.

flank

/ flæŋk /

noun

1. the side of a man or animal between the ribs and the hip

2. (loosely) the outer part of the human thigh

3. a cut of beef from the flank

4. the side of anything, such as a mountain or building

5. the side of a naval or military formation

verb

1. to be located at the side of (an object, building, etc)

2. military to position or guard on or beside the flank of (a formation, etc)

3. military to move past or go round (a flank)

Other Word Forms

• unflank verb (used with object)
• well-flanked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flank¹

before 1100; Middle English; late Old English flanc < Old French < Frankish; compare Old High German hlanca loin

Word History and Origins

Origin of flank¹

C12: from Old French flanc , of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

A brigade of 101st Airborne Division has been deployed in Romania as part of a broader push by the U.S. to strengthen its military position on NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Romania's defence ministry has said the US intends to reduce some of its troops stationed on Nato's eastern flank.

Read more on BBC

Romania's defence ministry said Wednesday that the United States had informed it and its allies that Washington intends to reduce some of its troops deployed on NATO's eastern flank.

Read more on Barron's

"This is destabilisation. This is provocation," she said on X, adding that Europe should speed up measures to defend its eastern flank.

Read more on Barron's

A sandy road wide enough for two cars runs beneath, flanked by a shorter berm on the side nearest to the ruins.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When To Use

What is a basic definition of flank?

A flank is space between the lowest rib and hip of an animal or person. To flank something means to stand at the side of something. In the military, a flank is a left or right side of an army or fleet of ships. Flank has several other senses as a noun and a verb.The space on your torso between your lowest rib and your hip is called your flank. Animals like cows and horses also have sides referred to as flanks. If a slice of meat comes from this part of an animal’s body, it is a flank cut or flank steak.

• Used in a sentence: The tree branch poked me in my left flank. 

More generally, a flank is the side of anything.

• Used in a sentence: The ball bounced off the left flank of the house. 

In this sense, flank is used to mean to stand or be located at the side of something. A person or thing that flanks something is called a flanker.

• Used in a sentence: Orange trees flanked both sides of the river.

Flank is used in a military sense to refer to the sides of an army. For example, if an army was lined up in rows of soldiers, the soldiers on either end of the rows would make up the army’s flank. An army’s flank is described with directional terms, such as left or right, or compass directions, that is, north, south, east, or west.

• Used in a sentence: The left flank collapsed under the intense arrow fire. 

Flank is used in a similar sense as a verb to mean to attack or harass an army’s flank.

• Used in a sentence: The Roman soldiers charged out of the woods and managed to flank the Greek army.