false flag

[fawls flag]

noun

1. an attack or other hostile action that obscures the identity of the participants carrying out the action while implicating another group or nation as the perpetrator (often used attributively): The false flag terrorist attack lured the military into a hasty response.

   Evidence suggests that the covert operation was a false flag.

   The false flag terrorist attack lured the military into a hasty response.

2. a misrepresentation of affiliation or motivation or a false equivalence deliberately put forth to manipulate the context, perception, or frame of an action, object, or argument (often used attributively).

   Public schools are losing tax dollars to private schools under the false flag of school vouchers expanding parental choice.

3. a flag flown to disguise the nationality or affiliation of a vessel, vehicle, or base of operations.

   Surviving sailors reported that the privateer was flying a false flag on approach and attacked as soon as cannons were in range.

Word History and Origins

Origin of false flag¹

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

Megyn Kelly, who is currently under fire for appearing to minimize Epstein’s abuse, claimed Monday that the furry information revealed by Leavitt was actually an FBI false flag meant to distract from Carlson’s claims: “This whole thing stinks.”

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Venezuela also claimed that they had captured a "mercenary group with direct information from the US intelligence agency", and alleged that a "false flag attack is underway" in the waters between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.

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A false flag operation is a political or military action carried out with the intention of blaming an opponent for it.

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Venezuela's President Maduro has made accusations of false flag attacks before, including a plan to plant explosives in the US embassy in Caracas in early October.

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His troop deployments are a false flag — meant to provoke a response in order to justify harsh crackdowns.

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When To Use

What is a false flag?

A false flag is intentional misrepresentation, especially a covert political or military operation carried out to appear as if it was undertaken by another party.