Definition
n. a small flag that a team or country flies to show they have won a competition. It is usually a smaller version of the main flag.
n. a small flag, often triangular, awarded to a team or nation to signify victory in a competition. Frequently used in sports contexts to distinguish a champion from other participants.
Examples
“The team raised its pennant after winning the championship.”
“The local museum displays a collection of pennants from every major league that the city's team has ever won.”
“While the national flag remains a symbol of the country's sovereignty, the pennant serves as a more immediate and tangible marker of athletic achievement on the international stage.”
Examples
simple
“The team raised its pennant after winning the championship.”
contextual
“The local museum displays a collection of pennants from every major league that the city's team has ever won.”
complex
“While the national flag remains a symbol of the country's sovereignty, the pennant serves as a more immediate and tangible marker of athletic achievement on the international stage.”
Real-World Examples
“There was no exchanging of pennants and no shaking of hands, with both squads hurried away from the centre circle into their own huddles.” “A win would guarantee a first pennant since the Covid-shortened 2021 campaign, with second-placed Somerset faltering against Surrey.” Etymology
From Middle English penon, penoun, pynoun, Old French penon, French pennon, from Latin penna (“feather”). See pen (“a feather”), and compare pennon, pinion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/pennant
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0