distinguished flying cross: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Military, Official, Historical
Quick answer
What does “distinguished flying cross” mean?
A military award given for heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight operations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A military award given for heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight operations.
It is a specific, high-level decoration (a medal) awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces, and the United States Armed Forces, for acts of gallantry, courage, or skill while flying in active operations against an enemy. It is often abbreviated as DFC.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The award exists independently in both the UK (and Commonwealth) and US military honours systems. The criteria and design are similar but distinct entities governed by different sovereign authorities.
Connotations
Conveys immense respect, bravery, and elite skill. In both contexts, it is a prestigious, career-defining honour.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but standard within military, historical, and biographical contexts related to aviation.
Grammar
How to Use “distinguished flying cross” in a Sentence
[Subject: Military Authority] awarded [Recipient] the Distinguished Flying Cross for [Action/Event].[Recipient] was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.The Distinguished Flying Cross was pinned on his chest.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “distinguished flying cross” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Distinguished Flying Cross recipient attended the ceremony.
- He wore his Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.
American English
- The Distinguished Flying Cross award ceremony was held at the Pentagon.
- She researched her grandfather's Distinguished Flying Cross citation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, military history, and biographical studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare, except in conversation about military family history or significant news stories about veterans.
Technical
Standard term in military awards, heraldry, and phaleristics (the study of orders and medals).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “distinguished flying cross”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “distinguished flying cross”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “distinguished flying cross”
- Writing it in lowercase ('distinguished flying cross').
- Using 'of' incorrectly (e.g., 'Distinguished Flying Cross of the USA' is less common than 'the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)').
- Confusing it with the 'Distinguished Service Cross' (a different award).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be awarded to any member of the armed forces (including navigators, bombardiers, flight engineers, air gunners) who distinguishes themselves in aerial flight during operations.
A 'Bar' is an additional award. If a recipient performs another act meriting the DFC, they are awarded a Bar to attach to the ribbon of their original medal, signifying a second award.
Yes, it is commonly awarded posthumously to service members who displayed the requisite heroism but did not survive the action.
They are separate awards. The UK DFC was instituted in 1918 for officers (now all ranks). The US DFC was created in 1926 and is awarded to any member of the US Armed Forces. The designs and specific awarding criteria differ.
A military award given for heroism or extraordinary achievement during aerial flight operations.
Distinguished flying cross is usually formal, military, official, historical in register.
Distinguished flying cross: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˌstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃt ˈflaɪ.ɪŋ krɒs/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃt ˈflaɪ.ɪŋ krɔːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms. The term is the official name itself.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A DISTINGUISHED (highly respected) FLYING (in the air) CROSS (the shape of the medal). It's the top cross for flying heroes.
Conceptual Metaphor
HONOUR IS A TANGIBLE OBJECT (awarded/bestowed/received); VALOUR IS HEIGHT (a high-flying achievement).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'Distinguished Flying Cross' primarily refer to?