- a variation of flak.
flack
1 Americannoun
noun
noun
Etymology
Origin of flack
1935–40; said to be after Gene Flack, a movie publicity agent
Explanation
If someone gives you flack about wearing shorts in the winter, tell them to chill out. Flack is a criticism. Flack also refers to anti-aircraft guns, and then sometimes it’s spelled flak. Flack as a criticism comes from the military sense, as it feels like an attack. A flack (or flak) jacket will protect your body from projectiles, but it doesn’t protect you from insults. Flack is also a word for a promoter. If you publish a book, you’ll need to flack — or promote it — yourself or hire a professional flack who will convince everyone to buy it. The German root is Fliegerabwehrkanone, "aviator-defense gun."
Vocabulary lists containing flack
Love Radio
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
All Boys Aren't Blue
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
The flack then sent me the same piece, with slight edits, under a professor’s byline.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
One supporter said "we might have opened up for some flack with the roundabout link", while others commented on the continued use of "Dons" in the design.
From BBC ● May 6, 2025
When Geiger caught flack for prescribing food instead of drugs, he replied, “The last time I looked at my textbooks, the most specific therapy for malnutrition was food.”
From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2025
Before they could speak more than a few words, a flack following the senator handed them business cards and told them to reach out to the office with any questions.
From Slate ● Feb. 22, 2024
Dale replied he’d had just about enough of setting by the shipping lane in soup fog for a dozen silvers, a few dogfish, a couple of hake, and what’s more taking flack off his radio.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
