white ensign

noun

1. the British naval ensign, consisting of the red cross of St. George on a white field, with the British union occupying the upper quarter along the hoist.

White Ensign

noun

1. the ensign of the Royal Navy and the Royal Yacht Squadron, having a red cross on a white background with the Union Jack at the upper corner of the vertical edge alongside the hoist Compare Red Ensign Blue Ensign

Word History and Origins

Origin of White Ensign¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

He was a Flag Officer and went without food or drink for the whole day as he held the naval white ensign.

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He was believed to have been the last surviving British marine to see the Royal Navy’s white ensign raised over Sword Beach as allied forces advanced.

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The Royal Navy spokesman added the British White ensign, which is only used on UK warships, "cannot be defaced because it's a symbol of the legal status of a vessel as a warship".

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The decommissioning ceremony ended with the Royal Navy White Ensign being symbolically hauled down from the ship's main mast.

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The white ensign was raised to mark the moment HMS Queen Elizabeth was officially added to the Royal Navy’s fleet.

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