half-staff
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of half-staff
First recorded in 1595–1605
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Vocabulary lists containing half-staff
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.
The government said flags would be lowered to half-staff on official buildings, as well as at Colombian embassies around the world, "in honor of all the dead."
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Government authorities have stepped in with official relief measures and sanctioned mourning activities, such as flying flags at half-staff and the establishment of designated condolence sites.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025
Flags at the California Capitol flew at half-staff Tuesday in honor of Officer Craven, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2025
Citing Trump’s order to fly flags at half-staff, he continued, “But on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this.”
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2025
Someone in the crowd lowered to half-staff the United States flag flying in front of City Hall.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
