English Reference
noun · verb

flagship

n. · v.
US /ˈfɫæɡˌʃɪp/ UK /flˈæɡʃɪp/ flag·ship UK spelling flagships

  1. 01 C1 Advanced General-service

    n.the best, most important, or most famous thing that a company or group owns.

    n.the finest, largest, or most significant item in a series or collection, often used to represent the brand's identity.

    Simple

    The company is opening its new flagship store in the center of London next month.

    In context

    The smartphone manufacturer launched its flagship model last night, boasting a revolutionary camera system designed to outperform all competitors in the premium market.

    centerpieceshowpiecelead
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    n.the ship in a fleet that carries the commanding officer and flies their flag.

    n.the vessel in a naval fleet that carries the admiral or commander; it serves as the tactical and symbolic lead of the group.

    Simple

    The admiral stood on the deck of the flagship as the fleet entered the harbor.

    In context

    The flagship sustained heavy damage during the initial engagement, forcing the command staff to transfer their operations to a secondary cruiser.

    lead ship
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Formal

    v.to be the main example of something or to lead a group of things.

    v.to serve as the primary representative or leading element of a larger project or organization.

    Simple

    This new environmental project will flagship the city's green initiative.

    In context

    The university hopes that the new research center will flagship its expansion into biotechnology over the next decade.

Usage flagship newsletter

The 2026 Samsung flagship foldable is barely thicker than the average flat phone when folded, which is impressive considering the powerful hardware inside.

Ars Technica· 14 Aug 2026

The  Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network  (BES-Net) is one of the flagship initiatives of the UN Development Programme Nature Pledge , which focuses on strengthening efforts to protect and restore the Planet.

UN News· 15 Aug 2026

From flag + ship.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated