flagship

American  

[flag-ship] / ˈflægˌʃɪp /

noun

1. a ship carrying the flag officer or the commander of a fleet, squadron, or the like, and displaying the officer's flag.

2. the main vessel of a shipping company.

3. any of the best or largest ships or airplanes operated by a passenger line.

4. the best or most important one of a group or system.

   This store is the flagship of our retail chain.

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adjective

1. being or constituting a flagship.

flagship British  

/ ˈflæɡˌʃɪp /

noun

1. a ship, esp in a fleet, aboard which the commander of the fleet is quartered

2. the most important ship belonging to a shipping company

3. a single item from a related group considered as the most important, often in establishing a public image

   the nine o'clock news is the flagship of the BBC

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Etymology

Origin of flagship

First recorded in 1665–75; flag ¹ + ship ¹

Example Sentences

In a sign of further caution, top oil exporter Saudi Arabia—the cartel’s de-facto leader —recently cut the selling price of its flagship crude grade to Asian buyers for the fourth consecutive month.

From The Wall Street Journal

Strategy Executive Chair Michael Saylor on Tuesday threw cold water on claims that the company would liquidate its Bitcoin holdings if the flagship cryptocurrency continues to plummet.

From Barron's

The visit is expected to advance a flagship transport communications project integrating the two countries into a new east-west trade route.

From Barron's

Catholic schools and cultural institutions including the Frick Collection in New York City and the New York Public Library—whose flagship Fifth Avenue building bears Schwarzman’s name—also have been beneficiaries.

From The Wall Street Journal

He will be the most senior US official ever to visit Armenia, where he is also expected to advance a flagship project to improve road-and-rail infrastructure in the region.

From Barron's

Related Words

• bellwether
• crown jewel