flag officer

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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.

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Origin of flag officer

First recorded in 1655–65

Words nearby flag officer

flagitious, Flagler, flag lieutenant, flagman, flag of convenience, flag officer, flag of truce, flagon, flag out, flagpole, flag rank

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use flag officer in a sentence

Cecil Haney became a flag officer in 2005 when he was promoted to rear admiral and pinned on his first star.
These Jobs Were Not Posted on ZipRecruiter (Ep. 473)|Stephen J. Dubner|August 26, 2021|Freakonomics
“Barbarism,” said retired NYPD Officer Jim Smith on Thursday.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the first episode, an officer is shown video of himself shooting and killing a man.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That officer fretting about his “stance,” we learn, is plagued by PTSD that cripples him both on the job and at home.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Smith attended both funerals as a cop and as the husband of Police Officer Moira Smith, who died on 9/11.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The al Qaeda-linked gunmen shot back, but only managed to injure one officer before they were taken out.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the cavalry officer melted imperceptibly out of her existence.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
The engineer officer charged with preparing the line of retreat reported that the one bridge across the Elster was not sufficient.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
That woman meant mischief, or she would never have dared to suggest that a British officer should throw in his lot with hers.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
My orders ought to have been taken before a single unwounded Officer or man was ferried back aboard ship.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Malcolm reined up, and soon a British officer appeared round a bend in the road.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy

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