reflag
Americanverb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of reflag
First recorded in 1985–90
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.
See Examples For:
In 1987, with the U.S. highly dependent on Mideast crude and with Kuwaiti tankers coming under attack by Iran, Reagan agreed to reflag 11 Kuwaiti tankers as U.S. vessels and provide escorts for their protection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026
It said: "The ship, initially flying a false flag, turned off its transponders while at sea and sought to reflag while being pursued."
From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2026
Cooper said authorities had no current plans to reflag ships and escort them past Yemen.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 22, 2024
“The North Koreans will take measures to rename and reflag these vessels,” said Farley Mesko, chief executive of Sayari Analytics, a Washington-based financial intelligence company that tracks illicit trade with North Korea.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 2, 2018
Once that was achieved, the U.S. could further bind its allies to its side by avoiding unilateral actions, such as its solitary decision to reflag Kuwait's tankers.
From Time Magazine Archive
Navy has escorted ships in the Gulf before, notably in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq war, when President Ronald Reagan authorized Kuwaiti tankers to be reflagged as American ships and given a naval escort.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 5, 2026
Twenty-five tankers were reflagged to Russia in the final three months of 2025, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026
It said the Danish group had asked for the boats to be moved out of Russian waters and reflagged.
From Reuters ● May 10, 2023
On the day of the mine strike, the Roberts was returning from escorting a reflagged Kuwaiti tanker, which it was protecting from roving Iranian frigates and fighter jets hunting for vulnerable targets.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 10, 2022
The Trondheim is one of several vessels reflagged under Cameroon’s growing fishing fleet that have changed names and been accused of illicit activities at sea.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 26, 2022
It then dramatically changed course, as well as its name to the Marinera, reportedly reflagging from a Guyanan to a Russian vessel.
From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2026
While the commission made specific recommendations on what to rename the nine Army posts, it declined to select candidates for reflagging two naval ships, saying that should fall to the Navy secretary instead.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 13, 2022
She said it may follow the model used by Iran and Venezuela, both sanctioned oil exporters that have used methods like reflagging older tankers and transferring cargoes from one ship to another at sea.
From New York Times ● Jul. 15, 2022
The U.S. began reflagging Kuwaiti tankers navigating the Persian Gulf and Straits of Hormuz.
From Fox News ● Feb. 18, 2020
Options include providing armed escorts to vessels navigating vulnerable shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz, reflagging tankers of friendly nations with U.S. flags to entitle them to U.S. naval protection, and adding more sanctions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2019
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.
