Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
battle flag

battle flag

4 5.7
A flag carried at the front of an army to show who they are and guide soldiers
  • noun
  • /ˈbætəl flæɡ/
translation icon : bandera de batalla
  • Every army unit had a distinct battle flag to show their allegiance in combat.
  • Confederate battle flag

Anytime you have the fortune or misfortune of observing A Confederate battle flag, notice how many stars there are.

Examples

  • Five cars bearing Confederate battle flags headed up the long, narrow driveway toward her family's home.

    Academic text (2004)

  • This is the Scottish Douglas Clan battle flag, a symbol of courage and honor.

    Voiceless (2016)

  • Somewhere, in the picture's only inlet of light, there was a Confederate battle flag.

    Academic text (1998)

  • According to James, Confederate battle flags figured prominently in several of the photographs.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Appearing especially at college football games in the South, miniature Confederate battle flags could often be seen waving in large, enthusiastic crowds.

    Academic text (2008)

  • A new regiment was fording the river, its battle flag fluttering proudly as the colorbearer carried it in front of the troops.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Atlas Denton, the regimental color-bearer, carried the 47th's Southern Cross battle flag out in front of the assembled troops.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The soldiers rallied behind the battle flag as they prepared for the fight.

  • During the reenactment, participants carried a battle flag to signify their units.

Antonyms

white flag
19 2.7

A plain white cloth that people raise to show surrender or ask for a truce

peace sign
6 2.9

A circle with three lines that people use to show a wish for no war

How Symbolic

standard
41 5.0
battle flag
4 5.7
banner
191 1.2
flag
848 1.0
marker
86 1.0

Surface Forms

battle flag singular
battle flags plural

Morphology

battle + flag

The meaning 'a flag used during battle' is directly derivable from combining 'battle' (a fight between armed groups) and 'flag' (a cloth emblem). This noun-noun compound follows a regular compositional pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun battle flag comes from old wars where a flag was carried at the front of an army so soldiers could see it and gather around it. So, capturing or losing the battle flag could break an army's spirit, and the term now means the flag that 'leads' and 'unites' soldiers in battle.