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
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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

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flag of convenience was in 1956

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Cite this Entry

“Flag of convenience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flag%20of%20convenience. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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