• IPA: /ˈɛnsɪn/, IPA: /ˈɛns(ə)n/ IPA: /ˈɛnsaɪn/

ensign (plural ensigns)

1. A badge of office, rank, or power.
2. The lowest grade of commissioned officer in the United States Navy, junior to a lieutenant junior grade.
3. A flag or banner carried by military units; a standard or color/colour.

   Synonyms: ancient

   • 1591, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene iv]:

     Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still,

4. (nautical) The principal flag or banner flown by a ship (usually at the stern) to indicate nationality.
5. Any prominent flag or banner.
   • 1667?, John Milton, Paradise Lost

     Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced.

6. (historical) A junior commissioned officer in the 18th and 19th centuries whose duty was to carry the unit's ensign.

• See Thesaurus:badge
• coronet (cavalry equivalent of the infantry ensign)
• second lieutenant (OF-1), first NATO commissioned officer grade above OF-0 trainee officer

• French: aspirant
• German: Fähnrich
• Italian: guardiamarina, alfiere, cadetto
• Portuguese: alferes
• Russian: пра́порщик

• French: pavillon
• German: Fahne
• Italian: insegna, vessillo, baluardo, stendardo
• Portuguese: insígnia
• Russian: зна́мя
• Spanish: enseña, pabellón

ensign (ensigns, present participle ensigning; past and past participle ensigned)

1. (obsolete) To designate as by an ensign.
2. To distinguish by a mark or ornament.
3. (heraldry) To distinguish by an ornament, especially by a crown.

   Any charge which has a crown immediately above or upon it, is said to be ensigned.

1. Surname
2. A hamlet in Alberta, Canada
3. A city in Kansas
4. (Mormonism) The official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints