half-staff

noun

ˈhaf-ˈstaf How to pronounce half-staff (audio)
ˈhäf-

Examples of half-staff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Minnesota assassination The Minnesota State flag flies at half-staff after a man killed senior Democratic state assemblywoman Melissa Hortman and her husband Marc outside the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. June 14, 2025. Jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 16 June 2025 The governor also ordered flags to fly at half-staff in Hortman’s honor. Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 15 June 2025 Flags at half-staff remain one of the most universal public signs of the state's tribute to those affected. James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025 Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said there would be three days of national mourning, with the Austrian flag lowered to half-staff and a national minute of mourning at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Philipp Jenne, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for half-staff

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of half-staff was in 1800

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Cite this Entry

“Half-staff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-staff. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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