half-staff

noun

ˈhaf-ˈstaf 

ˈhäf-

: half-mast

Examples of half-staff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared three days of mourning and directed flags to be flown at half-staff throughout the country to mourn the victims. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Newsom ordered flags at the California State Capitol lowered to half-staff in Liles' honor. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Stein previously ordered flags lowered to half-staff for a state trooper killed in a crash and after a state representative died from cancer, The N&O reported. — Anna Roman, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026

With flags at half-staff, many men wore suits and ties for the tributes in the three states, as did Trump in a blue suit, white shirt and red tie. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for half-staff

• behalf
• carafe
• distaff
• falstaff
• giraffe
• autograph
• biograph
• cenotaph
• chronograph
• epigraph
• epitaph
• hodograph