Reference meaning
false flag
Last updated
A ruse, in the days of sail, in which an attacking ship would fly the colours of its enemy until close enough to open fire.
Other meanings
2. noun
A diversionary or propaganda tactic of deceiving an adversary into thinking that an operation was carried out by another party.
3. verb
To target someone or something with a false flag or ruse.
4. noun
Alternative form of false flag.
Source and scope
This definition is reproduced from English Wiktionary, sense en-false_flag-en-noun-Uc02slWw, under the CC BY-SA 4.0. It has not yet received VocabularyBase editorial review. Read the source and license details.