standard bearer
Carries the flag
A standard bearer originally carried a military flag or standard into battle—a position of honor and danger.
The term now usually means a prominent representative or leader of a cause, movement, or organization: She became the standard bearer for progressive reform.
In politics, a party's standard bearer is typically its presidential nominee.
Cloth symbol or signal
- bannerDisplayed strip with message
- ensignFlag or junior officer
- pennantTapering nautical flag
- colorsVisual spectrum variations
emblem · insignia · crest · badge · heraldry · regiment · military · ceremony
Carrier of a cause
- flagbearerOne who carries colors
- captainOne who commands
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- figureheadNominal leader, no authority
frontman · spearhead · vanguard · chief · commander · helmsman · forerunner · leader
Agent sent abroad
- delegateEntrust authority to another
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- spokespersonAuthorized representative communicator
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
advocate · representative · proxy · diplomat · agent · consul · mouthpiece · voice
flag
Cloth symbol or signal
colors · emblem · insignia · crest · badge · heraldry · regiment · military · ceremony · parade
torchbearer
Carrier of a cause
- flagbearerOne who carries colors
- captainOne who commands
- championTop competitor, or advocate
figurehead · frontman · spearhead · vanguard · chief · commander · helmsman · forerunner · leader · trailblazer
emissary
Agent sent abroad
- delegateEntrust authority to another
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- spokespersonAuthorized representative communicator
ambassador · advocate · representative · proxy · diplomat · agent · consul · mouthpiece · voice · face
- ceremonial officersBeefeater, herald, Portcullis, usher, verger
- ceremony participantsofficiant, celebrant, best man, maid of honor, bridesmaid
- military rolessoldier, warrior, Praetorian Guard, sailor, Imperial Guard
- parade performersdrum major, majorette, baton twirler, color guard, drummer
- soldiersinfantryman, private, grenadier, grenadiers, fusilier
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, litmus test, acid test, touchstone
standard bearerfollower
One who supports another
rank and file · foot soldier · subordinate · minion · underling
standard bearerdisgrace
Loss of honor
pariah · black sheep · cautionary tale · laughingstock · failure
bear, stand, standard, understand, bearing, understanding, standards, withstand, bearable