**Canton-and-field** describes a design in which a distinguishing canton in the upper hoist sits upon a field that is otherwise plain or simply striped. The form is the basis of most national ensigns and of many national flags derived from them: the canton carries the device of allegiance or origin, and the field denotes the function or service.
**Example**: The flag of the United States, with a starred blue canton on a field of red and white stripes, is the canonical canton-and-field design.
**See also**: [canton](/glossary/canton/), [field](/glossary/field/), [ensign](/glossary/ensign/), [defacement](/glossary/defacement/)