A **banner** is a flag, usually rectangular and longer along the hoist than the fly, displaying the arms or device of a person, family or institution. Heraldic banners reproduce the design of a shield as a flag and are flown to indicate the presence of the bearer. In ordinary use, ‘banner’ has come to refer to almost any large rectangular flag bearing a slogan or image.
**Example**: The Royal Banner of Scotland, the Lion Rampant, is a banner of the royal arms reserved for the Sovereign and certain officers.
**See also**: [standard](/glossary/standard/), [gonfalon](/glossary/gonfalon/), [blazoning](/glossary/blazoning/), [ensign](/glossary/ensign/)