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

Known for brightly lit, blue-floored stores, the brand opens its fourth permanent flagship in Malibu this month.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

In January 2025, Mills took over Radio 2's flagship Breakfast Show, replacing the outgoing Zoe Ball, with his tenure ultimately lasting just over a year.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

The Twin Cities is hosting the flagship march on Saturday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The flagship ARK Innovation exchange-traded fund, which trades under the ticker ARKK, is down about 14% for the year through Thursday’s close.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

They were sad victims of another of the Mary Rose’s innovations—extremely strong, tall netting that surrounded the main deck, used to prevent an enemy from boarding the flagship.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Related Words

• bellwether
• crown jewel