Defacement (flag)

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British Red Ensign

Shield of Canada

Canadian Red Ensign: the British Red Ensign defaced with the shield of Canada

Defacement is a term used in heraldry and vexillology to refer to the addition of a symbol to another flag. For example, the Canadian Red Ensign was the British Red Ensign defaced with the shield of the Arms of Canada.

While the term "deface" can have negative connotations, the term "defacement" does not imply any insult to the original background; the symbol simply indicates differentiation of the flag from that of another owner.