flagship

[ flag-ship ]

noun

1. a ship carrying the flag officer or the commander of a fleet, squadron, or the like, and displaying the officer's flag.
2. the main vessel of a shipping company.
3. any of the best or largest ships or airplanes operated by a passenger line.
4. the best or most important one of a group or system:

   This store is the flagship of our retail chain.

adjective

1. being or constituting a flagship.

flagship

/ ˈflæɡˌʃɪp /

noun

1. a ship, esp in a fleet, aboard which the commander of the fleet is quartered
2. the most important ship belonging to a shipping company
3. a single item from a related group considered as the most important, often in establishing a public image

   the nine o'clock news is the flagship of the BBC

Word History and Origins

Origin of flagship¹

First recorded in 1665–75; flag ¹ + ship ¹

Example Sentences

Andrew Ross Sorkin is a columnist and the founder of DealBook, the flagship business and policy newsletter at The Times and an annual conference.

From New York Times

While Fox News commentators will often take shots at entertainment industry liberals, the flagship network’s stance has not been an impediment to doing business on its streaming channel.

From Los Angeles Times

The Scottish government is again delaying its flagship plans for a National Care Service - but denies reports that the policy has been dropped.

From BBC

With a decades-long career in law enforcement and at the border, all eyes will be on how he plans to cut down on illegal immigration into the US - a flagship policy of Trump's election campaign.

From BBC

But she is best-known in front of the camera as part of the presenting roster for Sky Sports' Premier League coverage - including its flagship Super Sunday programme.

From BBC

Related Words

• bellwether
• crown jewel