flotilla
noun
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Flotilla comes from the diminutive form of the Spanish noun flota, meaning "fleet." Flota derives via Old French from Old Norse floti and is related to Old English flota (meaning "ship" or "fleet"), an ancestor to English's float. Much like other words referring to groups of particular things (such as swarm), flotilla has taken on expanded usage to refer simply to a large number of something not necessarily having to do with nautical matters, often with humorous effect (e.g., "a flotilla of rather mature-looking male models" — Jed Perl, The New Republic).
Examples of flotilla in a Sentence
Carmela Guaglianone, Detroit Free Press, 16 June 2024
In response, the U.S. Navy deployed warships and aircraft to track the Russian naval flotilla.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 14 June 2024
And the governor, an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination this year, acknowledged that the arrival this week in Havana Harbor of a small Russian flotilla that included a nuclear submarine and another ship armed with hypersonic missiles was an issue above his pay grade.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2024
Russia has sent the flotilla to the region for routine naval exercises, U.S. officials said.
—Michael Wilner and Nora Gámez Torres The Miami Herald (tns), arkansasonline.com, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for flotilla 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flotilla.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flotilla
Cite this Entry
“Flotilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flotilla. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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flotilla
noun
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