flack

US: /flæk/ ,(flak)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

flack¹ /flæk/  n. [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms [countable] press agent.
2. Slang Terms [uncountable] flak.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

flack¹  (flak), n. [Sometimes Disparaging.]

1. Slang Terms See press agent. 
2. Slang Terms publicity.

v.i. 

3. Slang Terms to serve as a press agent or publicist:
   to flack for a new rock group.

v.t. 

4. Slang Terms to promote;
   publicize:
   to flack a new record.

• said to be after Gene Flack, a movie publicity agent 1935–40

flack²  (flak), n. 

1. Military flak.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flack / flæk/ noun

1. a variant spelling of flak

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

flak or flack /flæk/   n. [uncountable]

1. Military antiaircraft fire.
2. strong criticism or opposition:
   The candidate took a lot of flak from the press.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

flak  (flak), n. 

1. Military antiaircraft fire, esp. as experienced by the crews of combat airplanes at which the fire is directed.
2. criticism;
   hostile reaction;
   abuse:
   Such an unpopular decision is bound to draw a lot of flak from the press.

Also, flack. 

• German Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone) antiaircraft gun, equivalent. to Flieger aircraft (literally, flyer) + Abwehr defense + Kanone gun, cannon
• 1935–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flak, flack / flæk/ noun

1. anti-aircraft fire or artillery
2. a great deal of adverse criticism

Etymology: 20th Century: from German Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone), literally: aircraft defence gun