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

The missiles create a “multilayered offensive kill network” enabling Japan to strike targets along the coasts as well as inland areas of neighboring countries, the Chinese military’s flagship newspaper, PLA Daily, said in March.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Luxury stocks have struggled in recent years due to stagnant growth in China, a major market for many of the sector’s flagship names.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

At the 18 state flagship universities he looked at, they were asked to pay an average of $14,000 per year.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

Most notable among them is the Scottish Child Payment, a targeted benefit for families which has become one of the SNP's flagship policies.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Fighting and maneuvering continued for days, with Admiral Graves giving orders by signal flags that sailors raised aloft on his flagship.

From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen

Related Words

• bellwether
• crown jewel