1
a
: the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip
b
: a cut of meat from this part of an animal see beef illustration
2
a
: side
the eastern flank of a volcano
b
: the right or left of a formation
attacked the enemy on both flanks
3
: the area along either side of a heraldic shield
flanked; flanking; flanks
1
a
: to be situated at the side of
especially
: to be situated on both sides of
a road flanked with linden trees
b
: to place something on each side of
2
: to protect a flank of
3
: to attack or threaten the flank of (as a body of troops)
Examples of flank in a Sentence
Noun
She gently patted the horse's flank.
They attacked the enemy on both flanks.
the eastern flank of a volcano
Verb
the guards flank the center on a football team's offensive line
Recent Examples on the Web
W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
The Israel-Hamas war that began after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7 sparked a rift between the left and moderate flanks of the Democratic Party, an undercurrent that ran through Chicago politics as well.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
He was flanked by three U.S. Marshals during the hearing.
—Pierre Thomas, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flank
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has not been able to replicate former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) episodic success at keeping the party’s left flank in check.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
The Israel-Hamas war that began after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7 sparked a rift between the left and moderate flanks of the Democratic Party, an undercurrent that ran through Chicago politics as well.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
It was flanked by two large monitors, creating a triptych.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
He was flanked by three U.S. Marshals during the hearing.
—Pierre Thomas, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flank
Cite this Entry
“Flank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flank. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flank
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip
b
: a cut of meat from this part of an animal
2
b
: the right or left of a military formation
flank
2 of 2 verb1
: to be located at the side of : border
2
: to protect a flank of
3
: to attack or threaten the flank of (as a body of troops)
Medical Definition
flank
noun
: the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip
broadly
: the side of a quadruped
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share