flag

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

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See synonyms for: flag / flagged / flagging / flags on Thesaurus.com

noun

a piece of cloth, varying in size, shape, color, and design, usually attached at one edge to a staff or cord, and used as the symbol of a nation, state, or organization, as a means of signaling, etc.; ensign; standard; banner; pennant.

Ornithology. the tuft of long feathers on the legs of falcons and most hawks; the lengthened feathers on the crus or tibia.

Hunting. the tail of a deer or of a setter dog.

Journalism.

the nameplate of a newspaper.
masthead (def. 1).
the name of a newspaper as printed on the editorial page.

a tab or tag attached to a page, file card, etc., to mark it for attention.

Music. hook¹ (def. 12a).

Movies, Television. a small gobo.

Usually flags . the ends of the bristles of a brush, especially a paintbrush, when split.

Computers. a symbol, value, or other means of identifying data of interest, or of informing later parts of a program what conditions earlier parts have encountered.

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

to place a flag or flags over or on; decorate with flags.

to signal or warn (a person, automobile, etc.) with or as if with a flag (sometimes followed by down): to flag a taxi; to flag down a passing car.

to communicate (information) by or as if by a flag.

to decoy, as game, by waving a flag or the like to excite attention or curiosity.

to mark (a page in a book, file card, etc.) for attention, as by attaching protruding tabs.

(of a brush) to split the ends of the bristles.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about flag

strike the flag,

to relinquish command, as of a ship.
to submit or surrender: His financial situation is growing worse, but he's not ready to strike the flag.

Also strike one's flag.

Origin of flag

First recorded in 1475–85; perhaps blend of flap (noun) and fag² (noun) in obsolete sense “flap”

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

flagger, nounflagless, adjective

Words nearby flag

flaccid, flaccidity, flack, flackery, flacon, flag, flag captain, flag day, flag down, flagellant, flagellar

Other definitions for flag (2 of 4)

flag²

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

noun

any of various plants with long, sword-shaped leaves, as the sweet flag.

blue flag.

the long, slender leaf of such a plant or of a cereal.

Origin of flag

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English flagge

Other definitions for flag (3 of 4)

flag³

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

verb (used without object), flagged, flag·ging.

to fall off in vigor, energy, activity, interest, etc.: Public enthusiasm flagged when the team kept losing.

to hang loosely or limply; droop.

OTHER WORDS FOR flag

1 dwindle, wilt, slump, sag, wane.

See synonyms for flag on Thesaurus.com

Origin of flag

First recorded in 1535–45; perhaps blend of of flap (verb) and fag² (verb) in obsolete sense “to droop”. See flag¹

Other definitions for flag (4 of 4)

flag⁴

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

noun

flagstone (def. 1).

flags, flagstone (def. 2).

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

to pave with flagstones.

Origin of flag

⁴

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English flagge “piece of sod”; akin to Old Norse flaga “slab”

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

flagger, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use flag in a sentence

Let’s say your site was flagged by Google search as having a security issue, be it malware or maybe your site appeared to be hacked.
Google tests reporting security issue false positives in Search Console|Barry Schwartz|August 26, 2020|Search Engine Land
Amid a flagging economy — Pennsylvania was 47th in job creation under his watch — Corbett became in 2014 the first incumbent Pennsylvania governor to lose reelection since 1854.
The Candy Magnate Fueling Trump in Pennsylvania|Nick Fouriezos|August 23, 2020|Ozy
However, once an account has been flagged as a close relation to a user, it doesn’t stay in the top place for long.
How to optimize for the Instagram algorithm in 2020|Julia Miashkova|August 19, 2020|Search Engine Watch
That day, a prominent march was planned at the historic Red Fort, where India’s prime minister traditionally hoists the flag on Independence Day.
How India became the world’s leader in internet shutdowns|Katie McLean|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Melnyk said police on Friday arrested a protester who hung a rainbow flag on the gates of Poland’s Justice Ministry.
Poland’s LGBTQ activists confront growing crackdown|Kaela Roeder|August 14, 2020|Washington Blade
Beyond the huge American flag that hung over the street, the mile-long mass of cops ended.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There is only sand, a white ball, and a flag indicating the hole.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When the game starts, there is only sand, a white ball, a flag indicating hole 1, and a “0” at the top of the screen.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art|Alec Kubas-Meyer|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But quite unlike the schmuck, and this is the fun part, they never run up the white flag; indeed quite the opposite.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One of the honor guard approached with slow, measured steps and presented the flag to a uniformed captain.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos|Michael Daly|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Truly the flag of Britain was trailing in the mire, or these men would not have dared to address him in that fashion.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
A white woman, Mrs. Henry Jacobi, who had been taken prisoner early in the month, crossed the plain holding a white flag.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Don't you see him right behind that little man in yellow who is carrying a big blue flag?
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
Thus shall we see the destinies of this country guided under the orange and red flag.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
A fearsome struggle would surge around that tower where the British flag was flying.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for flag (1 of 4)

flag¹

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

a piece of cloth, esp bunting, often attached to a pole or staff, decorated with a design and used as an emblem, symbol, or standard or as a means of signalling

a small paper flag, emblem, or sticker sold on flag days

computing an indicator, that may be set or unset, used to indicate a condition or to stimulate a particular reaction in the execution of a computer program

informal short for flag officer, flagship

journalism another name for masthead (def. 2)

the fringe of long hair, tapering towards the tip, on the underside of the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as setters

the conspicuously marked tail of a deer

a less common name for bookmark

Australian and NZ the part of a taximeter that is raised when a taxi is for hire

the pennant-shaped pattern that is formed when a price fluctuation is plotted on a chart, interrupting the steady rise or fall that precedes and then follows it

the flag (in Victoria, Australia) the Australian Rules premiership

fly the flag to represent or show support for one's country, an organization, etc

show the flag

to assert a claim, as to a territory or stretch of water, by military presence
informal to be present; make an appearance

strike the flag or lower the flag

to relinquish command, esp of a ship
to submit or surrender

verb flags, flagging or flagged (tr)

to decorate or mark with a flag or flags

(often foll by down) to warn or signal (a vehicle) to stop

to send or communicate (messages, information, etc) by flag

to decoy (game or wild animals) by waving a flag or similar object so as to attract their attention

to mark (a page in a book, card, etc) for attention by attaching a small tab or flag

mainly Australian to draw attention to (something)

(foll by away or by) NZ to consider unimportant; brush aside

Derived forms of flag

flagger, nounflagless, adjective

Word Origin for flag

C16: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for flag (2 of 4)

flag²

/ (flæɡ) /

verb flags, flagging or flagged (intr)

to hang down; become limp; droop

to decline in strength or vigour; become weak or tired

Word Origin for flag

C16: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for flag (3 of 4)

flag³

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

any of various plants that have long swordlike leaves, esp the iris Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag)

the leaf of any such plant

Word Origin for flag

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Dutch flag, Danish flæg yellow iris

British Dictionary definitions for flag (4 of 4)

flag⁴

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

short for flagstone

verb flags, flagging or flagged

(tr) to furnish (a floor) with flagstones

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

flag

Idioms about flag

Origin of flag

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

Words nearby flag

Other definitions for flag (2 of 4)

Origin of flag

Other definitions for flag (3 of 4)

OTHER WORDS FOR flag

Origin of flag

Other definitions for flag (4 of 4)

Origin of flag

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

Words related to flag

How to use flag in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flag (1 of 4)

Derived forms of flag

Word Origin for flag

British Dictionary definitions for flag (2 of 4)

Word Origin for flag

British Dictionary definitions for flag (3 of 4)

Word Origin for flag

British Dictionary definitions for flag (4 of 4)