Word
flagship
Phoneticsflag·ship, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɫæɡˌʃɪp/
UK/flˈæɡʃɪp/
Definitions
01most important product or store
C1 · Advanced Countable noun 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.
“The company is opening its new flagship store in the center of London next month.”
“The smartphone manufacturer launched its flagship model last night, boasting a revolutionary camera system designed to outperform all competitors in the premium market.”
Synonyms
02commander's ship
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
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.
“The admiral stood on the deck of the flagship as the fleet entered the harbor.”
“The flagship sustained heavy damage during the initial engagement, forcing the command staff to transfer their operations to a secondary cruiser.”
Synonyms
03to lead or represent
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.
“This new environmental project will flagship the city's green initiative.”
“The university hopes that the new research center will flagship its expansion into biotechnology over the next decade.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “flagship” in context.
Real-World Examples
“The 2026 Samsung flagship foldable is barely thicker than the average flat phone when folded, which is impressive considering the powerful hardware inside.” “And Macy’s was expanding: It bought another department store in Brooklyn and created a flagship building on Manhattan’s Herald Square, which Macy’s still occupies.” “After more than 30 years of groundbreaking observations, Hubble remains one of NASA's flagship space observatories.” “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.” Etymology
From flag + ship.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/flagship