union jack

noun

1. a jack consisting of the union of a national flag or ensign, as the U.S. jack, which has the white stars and blue field of the union of the U.S. national flag.

2. (often initial capital letter),  the British national flag.

3. any flag the overall design of which is a union.

Union Jack

noun

1. a common name for Union flag

2. (often not capitals) a national flag flown at the jackstaff of a vessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of Union Jack¹

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

Last month, in response to a complaint from BBC's Watchdog, the ASA banned ads for a so-called "British" clothing firm that used images of roses, cobbled streets and the union jack when it was shipping goods from a warehouse in Asia.

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Williams, of Thornwood, Epping, was identified by detectives in footage wearing a Union Jack flag as a cape, the court heard.

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With one eye on crucial elections in Scotland and Wales in May, the Labour leader said: "I'm not just proud of the union jack and the cross of St George, I'm also proud of the Saltire, proud of the Red Dragon, proud of our union."

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A group of about two hundred protestors, waving the union jack and St George's flags and carrying placards opposing the government's digital ID plans, had to be separated from the pro-Palestinian demonstrators by police.

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Farron's flag also featured a union jack in one corner.

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