flag officer

noun

a naval officer above the rank of captain, as a fleet admiral, admiral, vice-admiral, rear admiral, or commodore, who is entitled to display a flag indicating his or her rank.
(formerly) an officer in command of a fleet, squadron, or group of ships.

Origin of flag officer

First recorded in 1655–65

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for flag officer

Historical Examples of flag officer

On you, every reliance is placed; and I wish I could say as much for every flag-officer afloat.
The Two Admirals
J. Fenimore Cooper
His cook or his butler would have said, 'Like the flag-officer done.'
Life On The Mississippi, Complete
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
I heard an educated gentleman say, 'Like the flag-officer did.'
Life On The Mississippi, Complete
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Flag-Officer Mervine was relieved in the latter part of September.
The Gulf and Inland Waters
A. T. Mahan
"Pass the word for the signal-officer," added the flag-officer.
Dikes and Ditches
Oliver Optic

British Dictionary definitions for flag officer

flag officer

noun

an officer in certain navies of the rank of rear admiral or above and entitled to fly its flag
the head of a boat or yacht club

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