flanker
Americannoun
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a person or thing that flanks.
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Military. one of a body of soldiers placed on the flank of an army to guard a line of march.
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Fortification. a fortification projecting so as to defend another work or to command the flank of an assailing body.
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Football.
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Also called flankerback. an offensive back who lines up outside of an end.
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noun
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one of a detachment of soldiers detailed to guard the flanks, esp of a formation
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a projecting fortification, used esp to protect or threaten a flank
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rugby a wing forward
Etymology
Origin of flanker
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Number eight Jasper Wiese, scrum-half Cobus Reinach, centre Jessie Kriel, wings Jaco Williams and Kurt-Lee Arendse, scrum-half Herschel Jantjies and flanker Paul de Villiers scored the tries for the double world champions.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Fiji managed tries from flanker Pita Gus Sowakula, number eight Elia Canakaivata and wing Selestino Ravutaumada, with fly-half Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula kicking nine points.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
It has been an incredible rise for Henry Pollock, the 21-year-old flanker who won player of the match.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
England's veteran flanker Marlie Packer scored four tries to help the Red Roses thrash Italy in Parma and remain on course for an eighth straight Women's Six Nations.
From BBC ● May 9, 2026
I had the ball and was running downfield when I got caught up in a tackle from a flanker who was playing on Seanie s team.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
