union jack
noun
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.
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union jack
Americannoun
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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.
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(often initial capital letter) the British national flag.
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any flag the overall design of which is a union.
Union Jack
British
noun
-
a common name for Union flag
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(often not capitals) a national flag flown at the jackstaff of a vessel
Etymology
Origin of union jack
First recorded in 1665–75
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:
Nottinghamshire County Council has said it is "extremely disappointed" after one of its union jack flag banners was vandalised in Newark.
From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2026
The Reform UK-led authority's £75,000 project started in December, with 164 union jack flags being fixed to lamp-posts in 82 areas across Nottinghamshire.
From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2026
St George and union jack flags have been hung up in public places across several locations in England in recent weeks.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2025
The St George's flag has sometimes had a closer association with English nationalists, and the union jack has been used frequently by mainstream political parties including the Tories and Labour.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2025
Stars and stripes are so-so—showy, perhaps; but my colours is the union jack, which I am told has the remarkable property of having braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze.
From The Letters of Charles Dickens Vol. 1, 1833-1856 by Georgina Hogarth
The two-story brick building was repainted in Reform teal, a large picture of lions wearing Union Jack flags hung on one wall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
More than 1,000 people -- many waving Union Jack and England flags -- attended Tuesday's protest.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
Stormzy's vest, which was designed by Banksy and emblazoned with the Union Jack, is displayed near the end of the exhibition - illustrating how music can address issues of national identity, street crime, and prejudice.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026
For a long time public television was the sole entry port for British shows, and it still waves that Union Jack.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2025
The colours of the Union Jack are red, white and blue.
From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author
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.
