flag officer

American  

noun

1. a naval officer above the rank of captain, such as a fleet admiral, admiral, vice-admiral, rear admiral, or commodore, who is entitled to display a flag indicating their rank.

2. (formerly) an officer in command of a fleet, squadron, or group of ships.

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flag officer British  

noun

1. an officer in certain navies of the rank of rear admiral or above and entitled to fly its flag

2. the head of a boat or yacht club

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Etymology

Origin of flag officer

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

The only U.S. flag officer to win a Pulitzer, Adm.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

He wrote that “the size of the general and flag officer corps has become increasingly out of balance with the size of the force it leads.”

From Washington Times • Jan. 29, 2023

“We had a heart-to-heart, and frankly she was more excited about me becoming a flag officer and the opportunity for an African American to do so than I initially was,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2021

Capt. Bruyere, who specialized in recruiting and personnel, never became a flag officer during her 28 years in the Navy.

From Washington Post • Sep. 17, 2020

When the Civil War broke out he was holding the position of flag officer, the highest rank in our navy at that time.

From The New Land Stories of Jews Who Had a Part in the Making of Our Country by Levinger, Elma Ehrlich