{{Short description|none}} '''Flag terminology''' is the nomenclature, or system of terms, used in vexillology, the study of flags, to describe precisely the parts, patterns, and other attributes of flags and their display.
==Flag types== {{glossary}} {{term |1=Banderole |2=Banderole or bannerol {{anchor|Bannerol|Banderole}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Banderole}} A small flag or streamer carried on the lance of a knight, or a long, narrow flag flown from the masthead of a ship.}} {{term |1=Banner}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Banner}} Generically, a synonym for a flag of any kind, and in heraldry specifically, a square or rectangular flag whose design is identical to the shield of a coat of arms; also denominated a banner of arms.}} {{term |1=Burgee}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Burgee}} A distinguishing flag of a recreational boating organisation, which commonly has the shape of a pennant.}} {{term |1=Civil ensign |2=Civil ensign, merchant flag, or merchant ensign {{anchor|Merchant flag|Merchant ensign}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Civil ensign}} A version of a national flag that is flown on civil ships to denote their nationality.}} {{term |1=Civil flag}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Civil flag}} A version of a national flag that is flown on civil installations or craft.}} {{term |1=Colour |2=Colour or color {{anchor|color}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Military colours, standards and guidons}} The flag of a military unit.}} {{term |1=Corner flag}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Football pitch|Pitch boundary}}}} A small flag flown at each of the corners of a football pitch or other sports field.}} {{term |1=Courtesy flag |2=Courtesy flag or courtesy ensign {{anchor|Courtesy ensign}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Maritime flag|Courtesy flag}}}} A flag that is flown on a visiting ship in foreign waters as a sign of respect for the foreign nation.}} {{term |1=Ensign}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Ensign}} The flag of any ship or military unit, or, generically, a synonym for any kind of flag. On ships, an ensign is normally flown at the stern.}} {{term |1=Fanion}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Fanion}} A small flag that the French military uses.}} {{term |1=Gonfalon |2=Gonfalon, gonfanon, or gonfalone {{anchor|Gonfanon|Gonfalone}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Gonfalon}} A heraldic flag that is suspended and pendent from a crossbar.}} {{term |1=Guidon}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Military colours, standards and guidons}} A small flag that a military unit flies; in Scottish heraldry, a smaller version of the standard (see below).}} {{term |1=Jack}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Jack (flag)}} A flag flown from a short jackstaff at the bow of a ship.}} {{term |1=National flag}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: National flag}} A flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but can also be flown by its citizens.}} {{term |1=Pennon |2=Pennon or pennant {{anchor|Pennant}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Pennon}} A flag that is wider at the hoist than at the fly.}} {{term |1=Pipe banner}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Pipe banner}} A decorative flag for Scottish Highland bagpipes.}} {{term |1=Prayer flag}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Prayer flag}} A kind of flag that is flown along mountain ridges and peaks in the Himalayas in order to bless the surrounding land.}} {{term |1=Rank flag |2=Rank flag or distinguishing flag {{anchor|Distinguishing flag}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Maritime flag|Rank flags}}}} A flag that a superior naval officer flies on his flagship or headquarters.}} {{term |1=Signal flag}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Flag signals}} A flag or pennant that communicates or signals information which is not heraldic.}} {{term |1=Standard}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Heraldic flag|Heraldic standard}}}} In heraldry, a long tapering flag that bears heraldic badges and the motto of the armiger; it may also refer to a military colour that cavalry units fly or a royal standard of a monarch or member of a royal family.}} {{term |1=State flag |2=State flag or governmental flag {{anchor|Governmental flag}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: State flag}} A version of a national flag that represents and may be restricted in use only to the national government and agencies thereof; the design of many state flags consists of the civil flag (see above) ''defaced'' with a coat of arms or other heraldic charge.}} {{term |1=Vexilloid}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Vexilloid}} A flag-like object that is used in a similar symbolic manner as a flag, but differs from a conventional flag in some way.}} {{term |1=Vexillum}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Vexillum}} A flag-like object that is suspended from a horizontal crossbar; the Ancient Roman army used it as its military standard.}} {{term |1=War flag |2=War flag, military flag, or battle flag {{anchor|Military flag|Battle flag}}}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: War flag}} A variant of a national flag that a nation's military forces use on land.}} {{term |1=Windsock}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Windsock}} A conical textile tube that is used to indicate the direction and strength of wind.}} {{glossary end}}
==Flag elements== thumb|Parts of a flag
{{glossary}} {{term |1=Badge}} {{defn |1=A coat of arms or simple heraldic symbol.}} {{term |1=Canton}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Canton (flag)}}Any quarter of a flag, but commonly means the upper hoist quarter, such as the field of stars in the flag of the United States or the Union Jack in the Australian Flag.}} {{term |1=Charge}} {{defn |1=A figure or symbol appearing in the field of a flag.}} {{term |1=Emblem}} {{defn |1=A device often used as a charge on a flag. It may be heraldic in origin or modern, for example the maple leaf on the Canadian Flag.}} {{term |1=Field}} {{defn |1=The background of a flag; the color behind the charges.}} {{term |1=Fimbriation}} {{defn |1=A narrow edging or border, generally in white or gold, on a flag to separate two other colors. For example, the white and gold lines of the South African Flag.}} {{term |1=Finial}} {{defn |1=A decorative or protective cap atop the flagpole. Often shaped like a sphere, but can also be a shape with heraldic significance, such as a spear or an eagle. Sometimes referred to as a '''capper'''.}} {{term |1=Fly}} {{defn |1=The half or edge of a flag furthest away from the flagpole. This term also sometimes refers to the horizontal length of a flag.}} {{term |1=Heading}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: {{slink|Flag|Hoisting the flag}}}} A piece of loose fabric running along the hoist for attaching a flag to its rope.}} {{term |1=Hoist}} {{defn |1=The half or edge of a flag nearest to the flagpole. This term also sometimes refers to the vertical dimension of a flag.}} {{term |1=Length}} {{defn |1=The span of a flag along the side at right angles to the flagpole.}} {{term |1=Width or breadth}} {{defn |1=The span of a flag down the side parallel to the flagpole.}} {{glossary end}}
== Basic patterns ==
Flags often inherit traits seen in traditional European heraldry designs, and as a result, patterns often share names.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Name !! Illustration !! Example !! Citation {{citation needed| reason = needs a source for any rows that don't link a well-referenced page about flags|date=December 2025}} |- ! Vertical bisection {{nowrap|(per pale)}} | 240x120px | 240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of Algeria | |- ! Horizontal bisection {{nowrap|(per fess)}} | 240x120px | 240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of Indonesia | |- ! Diagonal bisection {{nowrap|(per bend)}} | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Papua New Guinea | |- ! Diagonal bisection {{nowrap|(per bend sinister)}} | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Bhutan | |- ! Pale | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Nigeria | |- ! Vertical tricolor {{nowrap|(Tierced in pale)}} | 240x120px | 240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of France | |- ! Fess | 240x120px | border|240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of Austria | |- ! Horizontal tricolor {{nowrap|(Tierced in fess)}} | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of the Netherlands | |- ! Bend | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Trinidad and Tobago | |- ! Bend sinister | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of the Republic of the Congo | |- ! Side | 240x120px | border|240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of Pakistan |- ! Side sinister | 240x120px | border|240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of the first three Saudi states, 1744-1913 | |- ! Chief | 240x120px | border|240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of New Brunswick | |- ! Base | 240x120px | border|240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of Rwanda | |- ! Quadrisection {{nowrap|(per cross)}} | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Panama | |- ! Diagonal quadrisection {{nowrap|(per saltire)}} | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Jamaica | |- ! Greek (Hellenic) cross | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Switzerland | |- ! Symmetric cross | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of England | |- ! Nordic cross | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Sweden | |- ! Saltire | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Scotland | |- ! Canton | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Taiwan | |- ! Border | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Montenegro | |- ! Bordure | 240x120px | 240x120px{{Clear}}Flag of Maldives | |- ! Pile | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of the Czech Republic | |- ! Pile throughout | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Eritrea | |- ! Chevron {{anchor|Chevron}} | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of NAVA | |- ! Pall | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of South Africa | |- ! Arrowhead | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Guyana | |- ! Gusset | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Jubaland | |- ! Stripes | 240x120px | 240x120px|border{{Clear}}Flag of Catalonia | |- |}
==Techniques in flag display== {{glossary}} {{term |1=Distress}} {{defn |1=Flying the flag upside-down,<ref group=note>For example, 36 US Code [https://web.archive.org/web/20140324220425/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-1996-title36/html/USCODE-1996-title36-chap10-sec176.htm §176] provides: "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."</ref> or tying it into a wheft.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fotw.info/flags/xf-flip.html |title=Flying flags upside down |last=Nelson |first=Phil |website=Flags of the World |date=30 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519130027/https://www.fotw.info/flags/xf-flip.html |archive-date=19 May 2012 |access-date=April 2, 2021}}</ref>}} {{term |1=Half-mast}} {{defn |1={{ghat|Main article: Half-mast}} A style of flag display where the flag is flown at least the width of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole. Typically used as a display of mourning or rememberence.}} {{term |1=Hoist}} {{defn |1=The act or function of raising a flag, as on a rope.}} {{term |1=Lower}} {{defn |1=The act or function of taking down a flag, as on a rope.}} {{glossary end}}
=== Illustrations === Flag illustrations generally depict flags flying from the observer's point of view from left to right, the view known as the '''obverse''' (or "front"); the other side is the '''reverse''' (or "back"). There are some exceptions, notably some Islamic flags inscribed in Arabic, which is written from right to left; for these the obverse is defined as the side with the hoist to the observer's right.
==See also== {{portal|Heraldry and Vexillology}}
{{div col}} *Vexillology *Vexillological symbol *Civil flag *Ensign (flag) *Flag families *Maritime flag *National flag *National coat of arms *National emblem *National seal *National symbol *State flag *Galleries and lists: **Flags of Europe **Gallery of sovereign state flags **Gallery of flags of dependent territories **Lists of flags **List of flags by design **List of national flags by design **List of national flags of sovereign states **List of Japanese flags **List of United Kingdom flags **List of Antarctic flags **List of flags by color combination **List of sovereign states by date of current flag adoption **Timeline of national flags **Gallery pages of flags of country subdivisions {{div col end}}
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{FOTW|id=vxt-dvex|title=Dictionary of Vexillology}}
{{Vexillology}}
Vexillology Vexillology Category:Vexillology Category:Wikipedia glossaries using description lists