What does flagpole mean?
A flagpole is a tall vertical pole, usually made of metal, wood, or fiberglass, from which a flag is raised and displayed. Flagpoles are familiar fixtures outside schools, government buildings, embassies, sports stadiums, and private homes, and they often carry symbolic weight: flags flown at half-mast on a flagpole signal mourning or respect. Beyond its literal meaning, the word has entered everyday idiom through the phrase 'to run something up the flagpole,' meaning to float an idea to see how people react — a staple of business and political conversation. The compound combines 'flag' with 'pole' and dates to around the eighteenth century. It is also occasionally used figuratively for anything strikingly tall and thin. Simple, concrete, and universally understood, flagpole is a useful word for describing both a physical object and the ceremonies and symbolism that surround it.
nounA tall pole on which a flag is hoisted and displayed, typically standing upright in the ground or mounted on a building.
- A tall pole used to hoist and display a flag.
- Informally, a very tall thin pole or something resembling one.
"The flagpole in front of the school flew at half-mast after the news of the tragedy."
"The scouts raised the colors up the flagpole at dawn."
"Let's run that idea up the flagpole and see who salutes it."
Standard pluralization; no irregularities.
"The harbor was lined with flagpoles flying colorful maritime signals."
In 1929, daredevil Alvin 'Shipwreck' Kelly sat atop a flagpole in Atlantic City for a record 49 days, sparking a nationwide flagpole-sitting craze.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of flagpole
Flagpole is a straightforward English compound of 'flag' and 'pole,' first appearing in the eighteenth century as flag-flying became formalized on ships and public buildings. The word 'flag' itself likely derives from 'flag' meaning a reed or rush, whose swaying motion suggested a fluttering banner, though the exact connection remains uncertain. Related forms include 'flagstaff' (an older synonym) and 'flagship' (the ship carrying a commander's flag). The idiomatic use in 'run it up the flagpole' emerged in twentieth-century America, reportedly popularized in the 1950s.
How flagpole is actually used
Flagpole is an ordinary, neutral noun with no strong register constraints. The idiomatic phrase 'run it up the flagpole' — testing whether people like an idea — is common in American business and political speech. In formal contexts, 'flagstaff' may appear instead.
Easily confused with flagpole
Flagstaff means the same thing — a pole for flying a flag — but is a separate word; 'flagpole' is the more common everyday term, while 'flagstaff' also names a city in Arizona.