flag of convenience

noun

Registration of a ship in a country chosen for its low taxes, permissive regulations, etc.

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Meanings

nounflag of convenience (plural flags of convenience)

plural flags of convenience

  1. figurativelyRegistration of a ship in a country chosen for its low taxes, permissive regulations, etc.
    1 more example

    The terms of the treaties restricted the Navy's potential actions somewhat, but slavers were beginning to recognise that no flag of convenience was likely to keep them safe for long, especially as the United States began to send a few ships to help out what was now called the Preventative Squadron starting in the 1820s.

    2018 December 1, Drachinifel, 6:44 from the start, in Anti-Slavery Patrols - The West Africa Squadron, archived from the original on 29 Nov 2024
  2. literallyThe flag flown by a ship so registered (corresponding to the country of registration).
  3. broadlybusinessUse of a particular location or jurisdiction as one's nominal base of operations in order to take advantage of favorable laws and regulations or to avoid restrictions on one's operations.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 權宜輪 /权宜轮, 權宜船 /权宜船
  • 權宜輪 /权宜轮 (quányílún)flag of a chosen country of registration
  • 權宜船 /权宜船 (quányíchuán)flag of a chosen country of registration
  • 方便旗 (fāngbiànqí)flag of a chosen country of registration
Danish bekvemmelighedsflag
  • bekvemmelighedsflagflag of a chosen country of registration
French pavillon de complaisance
  • pavillon de complaisanceflag of a chosen country of registration
German Billigflagge
  • Billigflaggeflag of a chosen country of registration
Greek σημαία ευκαιρίας
  • σημαία ευκαιρίας (simaía efkairías)flag of a chosen country of registration
Hebrew דֶּגֶל נוֹחוּת
  • דֶּגֶל נוֹחוּת (degel nokhut)flag of a chosen country of registration
Norwegian Bokmål bekvemmelighetsflagg
  • bekvemmelighetsflaggflag of a chosen country of registration
Polish tania bandera, wygodna bandera
  • tania banderaflag of a chosen country of registration
  • wygodna banderaflag of a chosen country of registration
Swedish bekvämlighetsflagg
  • bekvämlighetsflaggflag of a chosen country of registration
Cite this entry
APA

flag of convenience. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flag%20of%20convenience

MLA

“flag of convenience.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flag%20of%20convenience. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “flag of convenience,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flag%20of%20convenience.

Source: flag of convenience on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.