flipper

noun

flip·​per ˈfli-pər 

plural flippers

1

a

: a broad flat limb (as of a seal or cetacean) adapted for swimming

b

: a flat shoe (as of rubber or silicone) with the front expanded into a paddle that is used to aid movement through water (as in snorkeling or scuba diving)

called also fin, swim fin

2

: someone or something that flips or is used in flipping

spatulas and pancake flippers

pinball flippers

He worked as a burger flipper.

A flipper is a person who changes TV channels just to see what else is on.

—Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning Union

He also interviews house "flippers" who buy cheap property with an eye toward making some inexpensive improvements to spruce it up and then quickly "flipping" it, or reselling it at a value-added price for a tidy profit.

—James Prichard

Examples of flipper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The water sports pavilion has all the gear to take advantage of the embarrassment of adventure the Caribbean has to offer, from e-foiling boards to swim flippers to canoes. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

For a team that leaned on Mahomes to do everything, including running the ball, having a field-flipper in the backfield combined with Andy Reid’s play calling is exciting. — J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Veterinarians checked his eyes, mouth, shell, flippers and organ function before using X-rays and a CT scan to examine his lungs. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

Other messages, many of which have now disappeared, told people where to buy wet suits, flippers, goggles, floats, and even waterproof bags for documents and cellphones. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for flipper

• chipper
• clipper
• dipper
• gripper
• kipper
• nipper
• ripper
• shipper
• skipper
• slipper
• stripper
• tipper

Kids Definition

flipper

noun

flip·​per ˈflip-ər 

1

: a broad flat limb (as of a seal or whale) used for swimming

2

: a flat rubber shoe with the front widened into a paddle for use in skin diving