1
: the sound or motion of something flapping loosely
2
a
: a backward handspring
b
: a sudden reversal (as of policy or strategy)
3
: a usually electronic device or a circuit (as in a computer) capable of assuming either of two stable states
4
: a rubber sandal loosely fastened to the foot by a thong
flip-flop intransitive verb

Examples of flip-flop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Skinny youngsters in jean shorts and flip-flops appear from decrepit walls and rooftops strapped with AR-15s, M4s, and M-16s. Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2023 Otherwise temperatures continue to flip-flop from cooler today to near-record warmth tomorrow, then cooler again Friday through the weekend, with decent sunshine other than perhaps Friday. Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2023 Advertisement On the other side of the Atlantic, near Gambia, a worker from Senegal on a Chinese trawler called the Victory 205 said he had been pricked by a catfish barb while wearing flip-flops. Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023 But for now, the Miami MC is lounging around, shooting pool in a white T-shirt, colorful shorts, and black flip-flops, while puffing on blunt after blunt, as this reporter dances around him asking questions. Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2023 These two steps of translation entail both Boolean logic and timing control through flip-flops. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2023 Drugs and sleep deprivation are the accelerants here, exacerbating Reg and Holly’s flip-flops of affection while undoing the couples who at first seem properly glued. Jesse Green, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023 Companies such as Meta, Amazon, and others that flip-flopped on their commitment to flexible work policies failed to provide effective training for their managers on hybrid and remote management. Bygleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2023 Furthermore, the single-toe band signals the continued rise of the flip-flop trend that's reigning at the moment. Tatiana Ojea, Glamour, 21 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flip-flop.' 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

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flip-flop was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near flip-flop

Cite this Entry

“Flip-flop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flip-flop. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

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