Synonyms

flag of truce

American

noun

Military.

a white flag displayed as an invitation to the enemy to confer, or carried as a sign of peaceful intention by one sent to deal with the enemy.

flag of truce British

noun

a white flag indicating the peaceful intent of its bearer or an invitation to an enemy to negotiate

"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

Etymology

Origin of flag of truce

First recorded in 1620–30

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 first flag of truce conveyed a demand from Forrest for the unconditional surrender of the fort.

From Slate • Jul. 13, 2019

Black Kettle carried an American Flag and a white flag of truce presented to him by President Lincoln; White Antelope wore a peace medal, also from Lincoln.

From Time • Nov. 29, 2016

As a handful of U.S. special operations troops got out, two Taliban approached, one holding a makeshift white flag of truce and the other leading Bergdahl.

From Reuters • Jun. 5, 2014

He had barely picked up his pen to finally begin that report before an adjutant interrupted with another message: a rebel officer, under flag of truce, had approached the causeway of Fort Monroe.

From New York Times • Apr. 1, 2011

“Sure. If the chance comes, just get a messenger and a flag of truce and go on over. Nothing to it.”

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023