- an attack or other hostile action that obscures the identity of the participants carrying out the action while implicating another group or nation as the perpetrator (often used attributively): Evidence suggests that the covert operation was a false flag.The false flag terrorist attack lured the military into a hasty response.
- a misrepresentation of affiliation or motivation or a false equivalence deliberately put forth to manipulate the context, perception, or frame of an action, object, or argument (often used attributively): Public schools are losing tax dollars to private schools under the false flag of school vouchers expanding parental choice.
- a flag flown to disguise the nationality or affiliation of a vessel, vehicle, or base of operations: Surviving sailors reported that the privateer was flying a false flag on approach and attacked as soon as cannons were in range.
