ensign

[ en-sahyn; Military en-suhn ]

/ ˈɛn saɪn; Military ˈɛn sən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ensign ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a flag or banner, as a military or naval standard used to indicate nationality.

a badge of office or authority, as heraldic arms.

a sign, token, or emblem: the dove, an ensign of peace.

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. the lowest commissioned officer, ranking next below a lieutenant, junior grade, and equal to a second lieutenant in the Army.

Archaic. standard-bearer(def 1).

Nearby words

Origin of ensign

1325–75; Middle English ensigne < Old French enseigne < Latin insignia; see insignia

SYNONYMS FOR ensign

1 pennant, streamer.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ensign ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsen·sign·ship, en·sign·cy, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ensign

Ensign resigned from the Senate the day before he was going to testify under oath about the scandal.
Don’t Lionize Coburn Yet|Katherine Spillar|August 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Ensign and Hampton's relationship may not have been so healthy, but they had the communication thing down.
The 12 Juiciest Bits From the Ensign Sex Scandal Report|David A. Graham|May 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
One $20,000 loan from Ensign to Hampton was forgiven after the affair was revealed.
The 12 Juiciest Bits From the Ensign Sex Scandal Report|David A. Graham|May 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Ensign's wife Darlene had found out about the phones, so they had to stop using them.
The 12 Juiciest Bits From the Ensign Sex Scandal Report|David A. Graham|May 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST

The final payment ended up being a $96,000 gift from Ensign's parents to the Hamptons.
The 12 Juiciest Bits From the Ensign Sex Scandal Report|David A. Graham|May 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The sharp command of the ensign in charge of that division broke the impressive silence.
The Dreadnought Boys on Battle Practice|John Henry Goldfrap
The ensign haulyards are reeved through a small block at the peak end, and lead down to the boom.
Every Boy's Book: A Complete Encyclopdia of Sports and Amusements|Various
An English ensign was hoisted, and the fleet ship dashed towards the men-o'-war that lay in wait.
The Naval History of the United States|Willis J. Abbot.
Young Hamilton, who had been an ensign in my regiment, left us on the way.
The Lion of the North|G.A. Henty
This duty unluckily fell upon the lieutenant of my company, which left it without an officer, the ensign being sick at New York.
The Campaign of Trenton 1776-77|Samuel Adams Drake

British Dictionary definitions for ensign

ensign

/ (ˈɛnsaɪn) /

noun

(also ˈɛnsən) a flag flown by a ship, branch of the armed forces, etc, to indicate nationality, allegiance, etcSee also Red Ensign, White Ensign

any flag, standard, or banner

a standard-bearer

a symbol, token, or emblem; sign

(in the US Navy) a commissioned officer of the lowest rank

(in the British infantry) a colours bearer

(formerly in the British infantry) a commissioned officer of the lowest rank

Derived Formsensignship or ensigncy, noun

Word Origin for ensign

C14: from Old French enseigne, from Latin insignia

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ensign

ensign

late 14c., via Scottish, from Old French enseigne (12c.) "mark, symbol, signal; flag, standard, pennant," from Latin insignia (plural); see insignia. Sense of "banner, flag" is c.1400; that of soldier who carries one is first recorded 1510s. U.S. Navy sense of "commissioned officer of the lowest rank" is from 1862. French navy had rank of enseigne de vaisseau since at least early 18c.

ensign

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of ensign

Examples from the Web for ensign

British Dictionary definitions for ensign

ensign

noun

Word Origin for ensign

Word Origin and History for ensign

ensign