flag

The word “flag” means a piece of cloth with a distinctive design, used as a symbol of a country, organization, or signal. In plain terms, a banner symbol, or (as a verb) to mark something for attention, wave someone down, or grow weary.

“Flag” is pronounced flag (/flæɡ/ in IPA).

Here is “flag” used in a sentence: “They raised the flag at sunrise.”

Words with a similar meaning to “flag” include option and dart.

Depending on how it is used, “flag” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “flag” comes from Germanic. Origin uncertain; may be related to Germanic words for "something flat," describing the flag's shape, or to old words for fluttering.

“Flag” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Flag” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece of cloth with a distinctive design, used as a symbol of a country, organization, or signal.

A flag is a piece of cloth, usually with a fixed design, flown from a pole to represent a country, group, or signal. A banner is typically hung or carried and often bears a message, slogan, or logo. Every flag is a kind of banner, but banners are far broader and less standardized.

A flag has several named parts. The hoist is the half nearest the pole, and the fly is the outer half that flaps freely. The field is the background color, and the canton is the upper inner corner, like the star section on the United States flag.

The study of flags is called vexillology, from the Latin word for a military banner. People who design flags are vexillographers. The field covers flags' history, symbolism, colors, and design principles, and good flag design usually favors simple shapes, few colors, and meaningful symbols over complicated detail.

Flags fall into several broad groups. National flags represent countries, while state, regional, and city flags mark smaller areas. Organizations, military units, and companies fly their own flags. Signal flags send messages at sea, and flags like the checkered or white flag communicate a specific instant meaning.