Flemish

American  

[flem-ish] / ˈflɛm ɪʃ /

adjective

1. of or relating to Flanders, its people, or their language.

2. pertaining to or designating the style of art, especially painting, as developed principally in Flanders and northern France during the 15th century, chiefly characterized by sharply delineated forms, naturalistic proportions, clear, usually cool colors, and the use of perspective.

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noun

1. the people of Flanders collectively; the Flemings.

2. the Dutch language as spoken in northern Belgium: one of the official languages of Belgium. Flem., Flem

Flemish British  

/ ˈflɛmɪʃ /

noun

1. one of the two official languages of Belgium, almost identical in form with Dutch

2. (functioning as plural) the Flemings collectively

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Flanders, the Flemings, or their language

Other Word Forms

• non-Flemish adjective

Etymology

Origin of Flemish

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle Dutch Vlaemsch, equivalent to Vlaem- ( Fleming ) + -sch -ish ¹

Example Sentences

You could say that the Flemish painter, who served in the courts of two 17th-century English kings, created an imposing style of portraiture that was its own last word.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Each of the friends, who live in the Flemish village of Zingem, stands to pocket about 5.8 million euros once the prize is divided into equal shares.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

The Mercator was first introduced in 1569 by a Flemish geographer, and by the 1700s, it had become the default map.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2026

Leading Flemish art authority Dr Maximiliaan Martens confirmed its under-drawing and composition matched the master's own working methods.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2025

More important to Italy’s musical enrichment than the cultural salvage from Constantinople was the importing, at vast expense, of skilled and celebrated Flemish composers.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall