flip side

noun

variants or less commonly flipside
plural flip sides also flipsides
1
: the reverse side of a phonograph record
[Taylor] Swift has an exclusive 7-inch single of "The Lakes" … On the flip side: "The Lakes (original version)," an orchestral take on the song not previously available on vinyl.Mike Snider
also : a song presented on the flip side of a record
The flip side of The Stone Poneys' "Different Drum" was the Pamela Polland composition "I've Got to Know." Warren Kurtz
2
: a reverse or opposite side, aspect, or result
The flipside of the disquieting inflation news is good news on the state of the economy …Paul Wiseman
Sixteen City Council members are stepping down, which means fresh faces and new ideas—but on the flip side, a huge loss of institutional knowledge about the basics of how the city operates …The Chicago Sun-Times

Examples of flip side in a Sentence

That song was on the flip side of their first single. Loss of privacy is the flip side of fame.
Recent Examples on the Web On the flip side, salary bands widened considerably in more employer-friendly markets, including the tech hubs of San Jose and Seattle. WIRED, 18 Sep. 2023 On the flip side of that comparison, this single game franchise has a character roster that’s as diverse and fun as the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gene Park, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023 On the flip side, a crummy night’s sleep can increase your risk of entering a manic or depressive episode.4 Medication is your first resource for keeping sleep steady. Julia Ries, SELF, 14 Sep. 2023 The flip side of seclusion is isolation, which begets boredom, depression and addiction. Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023 On the flip side, total domestic stocks of the resources tapered off, tumbling from 217.4 million barrels of crude oil to 214.7 million. Kye Graves, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023 On the flip side, there are cities where the slowdown is more pronounced and homes are taking longer to sell. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2023 On the flip side, Disney’s stance on offering ESPN directly to consumers — which Iger has described as inevitable — is a big issue for Charter. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2023 On the flip side, Clemson plummets from No. 4 to No. 25 after losing 28-7 at Duke. Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flip side.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flip side was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near flip side

Cite this Entry

“Flip side.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flip%20side. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!