floating

adjective

float·​ing ˈflō-tiŋ 

1

: buoyed on or in a fluid

2

: located out of the normal position

a floating kidney

3

a

: continually drifting or changing position

the floating population

b

: not presently committed or invested

floating capital

c

: short-term and usually not funded

floating debt

d

: having no fixed value or rate

floating currencies

floating interest rates

4

: connected or constructed so as to operate and adjust smoothly

a floating axle

Synonyms

• afloat

Examples of floating in a Sentence

the wreckage remained floating for hours

Recent Examples on the Web

Netanyahu said other countries, including France, were creating floating and field hospitals to take in injured and sick patients. —Doug Cameron, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2023

The United States shot down three more floating objects in the following days, then announced that there was no sign that any of them were connected to China. —Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing floating

• floating dock
• floating holiday
• floating island
• floating on air
• floating point
• floating rib
• free-floating

Medical Definition

floating

adjective

float·​ing ˈflōt-iŋ 

: located out of the normal position or abnormally movable

a floating kidney

Legal Definition

floating

adjective

float·​ing

1

: not presently committed or invested

floating capital

2

: short-term and usually not funded

floating debt

3

: having no fixed value or rate

floating currencies

floating interest rates