What does "flip-flop" mean?
A sandal consisting of a rubber sole fastened to the foot by a rubber thong fitting between the toes and around the sides of the foot.
Flip-flop
/ˈflɪpˌflɑp/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A sandal consisting of a rubber sole fastened to the foot by a rubber thong fitting between the toes and around the sides of the foot.
- Grammar: flip-flop is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: about face, accommodation, adaptation, adjustment.
- Useful contrasts: stay put.
- Usage evidence: Such a policy flip-flop was heavily criticized by his enemies.
How to use "flip-flop"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "flip-flop" 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 "flip-flop" 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 "flip-flop" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "flip-flop" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- 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 "flip-flop" is acting as noun, verb, 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 "about face" 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 "flip-flop", 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 sandal consisting of a rubber sole fastened to the foot by a rubber thong fitting between the toes and around the sides of the foot. UK, US
"the necessity for yet another place at which to buy a polo shirt or a pair of flip-flops may not be apparent to the town's residents"
- 2 a backward somersault wordnet
- 3 A change of places; an inversion or swap.
"On the break for strong left, everything remains the same, except for the flip-flop of positions."
- 4 an electronic circuit that can assume either of two stable states wordnet
- 5 A change of places; an inversion or swap.; An instance of flip-flopping, of repeatedly changing one's stated opinion about a matter. US
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 a backless sandal held to the foot by a thong between the big toe and the second toe wordnet
- 7 A bistable; an electronic switching circuit that has either two stable states (switching between them in response to a trigger) or a stable and an unstable state (switching from one to the other and back again in response to a trigger), and which is thereby capable of serving as one bit of memory.
"Ten two-state flip-flops […] were formed into ten-stage ring counters representing each decimal digit in the ten-digit accumulators […]"
- 8 a decision to reverse an earlier decision wordnet
- 9 The sound of a regular footfall.
- 10 A somersault.
- 11 A return trip. US, slang
"We'll catch you on the flip-flop. This here's the Rubber Duck on the side. We gone, 'bye, 'bye."
- 12 A person or inhabitant of the Middle East, or a Muslim nation, particularly Afghanistan. derogatory, offensive, slang
Verb
- 1 To alternate back and forth between directly opposite opinions, ideas, or decisions. idiomatic, intransitive, transitive
- 2 reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action) wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
stay put
Example
"Such a policy flip-flop was heavily criticized by his enemies."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "flip-flop"?
Common synonyms include: about face, accommodation, adaptation, adjustment, afterthought, alchemy.
How do you use "flip-flop" in a sentence?
Such a policy flip-flop was heavily criticized by his enemies.
How do you pronounce "flip-flop"?
Pronounced /ˈflɪpˌflɑp/.
Etymology
Onomatopoeic. Most probably an imitation of the sound produced when walking in them.