- the fire of antiaircraft guns
- Informal strong, clamorous criticism, opposition, etc.
Origin of flak
German from Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone), literally , flyer defense gun
noun
- An example of flak is the exploding ammunition that can damage a military plane when flying over enemy territory.
- An example of flak is what a CEO gets when he makes a controversial statement to the media.
Flak is defined as the bursting shells shot at aircraft from enemy guns on the ground, or criticism or opposition.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"flak." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FLAK>.
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flak. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FLAK
flak
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"flak." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FLAK>.
APA Style
flak. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FLAK
flak
also flack
noun
- a. Antiaircraft artillery.b. The bursting shells fired from such artillery.
- Informal a. Excessive or abusive criticism.b. Dissension; opposition.
Origin of flak
German from Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone) aircraft-defense gunTHE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"flak." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FLAK>.
APA Style
flak. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FLAK
Noun
(countable and uncountable, plural flaks)
- Ground-based anti-aircraft guns firing explosive shells.
- Anti-aircraft shell fire.
- (figuratively, informal) Adverse criticism.
- (informal) A public-relations spokesperson.
Origin
German acronym of Fliegerabwehrkanone (“aeroplane defence cannon”). First attested 1938 as “antiaircraft gun”, 1940 as “antiaircraft fire”. Sense of “adverse criticism” attested since 1963 in American English.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"flak." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FLAK>.
APA Style
flak. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FLAK
Sentence Examples
- Mom took a lot of flak over her decision, but she was very determined and strong-willed.
- Signature series includes the USC Trojans Flak Jacket XLJ.
- Debris can fly up, pieces of flak can hit you in the face, and dust can get in your eyes, so cover them up with wide safety glasses.
- Oakley Half Jacket and Flak are considered top of the line in terms of protection, visual clarity and style.
- Livestrong / Lance Armstrong Foundation collection comes in Straight Jacket and Flak Jacket styles.
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