coin flip

noun

plural coin flips

1

: a method for randomly choosing between two options that involves tossing a coin up in the air and letting which side is shown when it lands determine the choice

For centuries, people have relied on the coin flip as a fair, unbiased, and quick way to settle disputes, start games, and make decisions. … In theory, a coin flip has a 50% chance of heads and a 50% chance of tails.

—Faddi Shaikh

A state law says when there is a tie and 5,000 or fewer votes in an election, the local board of elections must use a method of random selection, like a coin flip.

—Billy Chapman

Ryan anointed Tomlinson his starter and named him and former Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie captains for the opening coin flip.

—Damon Hack

2

: an even chance : toss-up

It was a total coin flip coming into the season … if it would be Rutherford or Glen Rock representing the Liberty in the four-team postseason.

—Ryan Patti

… there is no way to count more than 100 million votes and get the same count every time. If the vote is close—and that is the only situation where a single vote matters—it is essentially a coin flip.

—Michael Kinsley

Examples of coin flip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wall Street traders now see close to a coin flip’s chance that the Fed could raise rates twice more by the end of the year, according to data from the CME Group. — Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Last season, head coaches had to mutually agree on a venue or put it to a coin flip. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026

Tennessee struggled from the opening coin flip, which the Titans won the toss only to defer, and Seattle needed seven plays before Lock found a wide-open Elijah Arroyo for a 36-yard TD. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

And interestingly, the Oscar history books read like a coin flip. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coin flip

• airship
• airstrip
• clerkship
• courtship
• equip
• filmstrip
• flagship
• headship
• heirship
• judgeship
• kinship
• lightship