flanker
Americannoun
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a person or thing that flanks.
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Military. one of a body of soldiers placed on the flank of an army to guard a line of march.
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Fortification. a fortification projecting so as to defend another work or to command the flank of an assailing body.
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Football.
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Also called flankerback. an offensive back who lines up outside of an end.
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noun
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one of a detachment of soldiers detailed to guard the flanks, esp of a formation
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a projecting fortification, used esp to protect or threaten a flank
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rugby a wing forward
Etymology
Origin of flanker
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Flanker Macleod, 29, will make his Six Nations debut, filling the role left by the injured Jac Morgan to pack down alongside Alex Mann and Aaron Wainwright in the back row.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
Flanker Ben Curry, who was also set to travel to Girona to continue his recovery from injury, has been sent back to Sale to rehabilitate with Harlequins' Jack Kenningham called up to the squad.
From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026
Flanker Harri Deaves will make his debut for Wales against New Zealand on Saturday as one of five changes to the side that beat Japan last week.
From Barron's • Nov. 20, 2025
Flanker Fraser McReight bundled over after a period of persistent pressure -- O'Connor added the extras to leave them just 19-14 down at the break.
From Barron's • Nov. 15, 2025
They sometimes spoke of him as the Grand Flanker.
From The Boys of '61 or, Four Years of Fighting, Personal Observations with the Army and Navy by Coffin, Charles Carleton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
