What does "flattie" mean?
A flattie spider, generally in the family Selenopidae, so called because of its flattened, sprawling shape.
Flattie
noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A flattie spider, generally in the family Selenopidae, so called because of its flattened, sprawling shape.
- Grammar: flattie is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: bobby, bull, cop, copper.
- Usage evidence: All the rube had to do was throw a baseball into a barrel and get a prize. How hard could that be? But the barrel was rigged with a false bottom as resilient as a trampoline so that a ball thrown from the specified distance invariably bounced out. Not everything was a flattie.
How to use "flattie"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "flattie" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "flattie" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "flattie" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "flattie" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "flattie" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bobby" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "flattie", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A flattie spider, generally in the family Selenopidae, so called because of its flattened, sprawling shape. informal
- 2 A flat white (a type of coffee). informal
- 3 A flat marinated cut of meat. South-Africa
"a chicken flattie"
- 4 A flat store. slang
"All the rube had to do was throw a baseball into a barrel and get a prize. How hard could that be? But the barrel was rigged with a false bottom as resilient as a trampoline so that a ball thrown from the specified distance invariably bounced out. Not everything was a flattie."
- 5 A flat-bottomed sloop-rigged sharpie.
"Flatties were in use on Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds of North Carolina, employed for shoal water fishing and trapping and usually manned by black boatmen ... no duck-hunting or use of guns was allowed by the local white men."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 A traditional two-dimensional motion picture, as opposed to a deepie. informal
"“SOMEDAY,” Hitchcock told me, “there will be three-dimensional wall Video screens, and Dial M for Murder will come into its own. But at the time I was making that picture, I worried that 3-D might be a fad that would fade and that Dial M would go out as a 'flattie.' […]"
- 7 A flat earther. Internet
- 8 The operator of a flat joint, or crooked gambling operation. slang
"A carnival hawker may run a legitimate game in which you have a fair chance to win, but then again he may be a flattie — a carnival grifter expert at separating the unwary from their money."
- 9 A Flat-coated Retriever. informal
- 10 A person with a flat chest, i.e., without breasts. informal
- 11 A navel that is neither protruding nor sunken. informal
- 12 A flatmate. informal
- 13 Alternative spelling of flatty. alt-of, alternative
Example
"All the rube had to do was throw a baseball into a barrel and get a prize. How hard could that be? But the barrel was rigged with a false bottom as resilient as a trampoline so that a ball thrown from the specified distance invariably bounced out. Not everything was a flattie."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "flattie"?
Common synonyms include: bobby, bull, cop, copper, dick, flatfoot.
How do you use "flattie" in a sentence?
All the rube had to do was throw a baseball into a barrel and get a prize. How hard could that be? But the barrel was rigged with a false bottom as resilient as a trampoline so that a ball thrown from the specified distance invariably bounced out. Not everything was a flattie.
Etymology
From flat + -ie.