**Undefaced** describes a flag that bears no additional charge, badge or device beyond its basic field or partition. The plain Red, White and Blue ensigns of the United Kingdom, flown without a badge, are the undefaced ensigns of the merchant marine, civil use and Royal Navy respectively. By contrast, colonial and state versions are defaced with a distinguishing emblem.
**Example**: The plain Red Ensign of the United Kingdom is the undefaced merchant flag; British colonial merchant flags were defaced with a colonial badge.
**See also**: [defacement](/glossary/defacement/), [charged](/glossary/charged/), [ensign](/glossary/ensign/), [field](/glossary/field/)