flag of convenience
noun phrase
: registry of a merchant ship under a foreign flag in order to profit from less restrictive regulations
Examples of flag of convenience in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
All eight crew members were Chinese nationals, suggesting the vessel was operating under a flag of convenience to obscure Chinese involvement in their activities.
—
Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
The typical Russian shadow tanker is owned by a special purpose vehicle, for instance in the Marshall Islands; sails under a flag of convenience such as that of Panama or Liberia; and is managed by a company based in the United Arab Emirates.
—Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Feb. 2025
Only two percent of shipping worldwide sails under the American flag, with the rest sailing under flags of convenience.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 8 Aug. 2023
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.
Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
The typical Russian shadow tanker is owned by a special purpose vehicle, for instance in the Marshall Islands; sails under a flag of convenience such as that of Panama or Liberia; and is managed by a company based in the United Arab Emirates.
—Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Feb. 2025
Only two percent of shipping worldwide sails under the American flag, with the rest sailing under flags of convenience.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 8 Aug. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Flag of convenience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flag%20of%20convenience. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share