flip-flop
Americannoun
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flip-flops
plural
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Informal. a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy.
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a backward somersault.
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Also called flip-flop circuit. Electronics. an electronic circuit having two stable conditions, each one corresponding to one of two alternative input signals.
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any of several similar devices having two alternative states, the change of state being caused by some input signal or by some change of input.
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the sound and motion of something flapping, as a windblown shutter; a banging to and fro.
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any backless, usually open-toed flat shoe or slipper.
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a flat, backless rubber sandal, usually secured on the foot by a thong between the first two toes, as for use at a beach, swimming pool, etc.
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(in advertising) a display or presentation, usually on an easel, consisting of a series of pages hinged at the top and flipped over in sequence.
adverb
verb (used without object)
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flip-flops,
present (3rd person singular)
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flip-flopped,
past participle, past
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flip-flopping
present participle
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Informal. to make a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy.
The opposition claimed that the president had flip-flopped on certain issues.
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to execute a backward somersault.
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to flap; bang to and fro.
The door flip-flopped in the high wind.
noun
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a backward handspring
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Also called: bistable. an electronic device or circuit that can assume either of two stable states by the application of a suitable pulse
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informal a complete change of opinion, policy, etc
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a repeated flapping or banging noise
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Also called (US, Canadian, Austral, and NZ): thong. a rubber-soled sandal attached to the foot by a thong between the big toe and the next toe
verb
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informal to make a complete change of opinion, policy, etc
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to move with repeated flaps
adverb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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flip-flopsimple
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flip-flopssimple
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have flip-floppedperfect
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has flip-floppedperfect
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am flip-floppingprogressive
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are flip-floppingprogressive
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is flip-floppingprogressive
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have been flip-floppingperfect progressive
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has been flip-floppingperfect progressive
Past
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flip-floppedsimple
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had flip-floppedperfect
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was flip-floppingprogressive
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were flip-floppingprogressive
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had been flip-floppingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of flip-flop
First recorded in 1655–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“The flip-flop developments in US-China tariffs war have added volatility to the market, further fueling trading activity.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025
Whether you’re towering over surfers in Huge or shuffling along the beach in Low, ERL has created a flip-flop height for any occasion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2025
Overall, this might look like a wild flip-flop: A popular and widely sold supplement with some science behind it just doesn’t seem to work.
From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2025
The flip-flop became jammed in the bay when Mr Hartley attempted to reverse the telehandler.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2024
The roof of the car was getting hot, and Trip stretched his legs down the windshield, poking the wipers with the toe of his flip-flop.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
That one guy who lives ’round the corner who has three pet ferrets and wears flip-flops all year long.
From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2026
The problem comes if you go straight from wearing a very structured shoe to wearing flip-flops a lot, she explains.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Yet the images of ebullient arrivals to Spain, a portion of them minors and some wearing only swimsuits and flip-flops, have already spread far and wide, threatening a rupture in relations with Rabat.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
Most carried little more than the shorts and flip-flops they were wearing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
My hair was a mess and I was in flip-flops, shorts, and a T-shirt.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
But Geragos and the brothers’ legal team say that Sirhan has, over the years, flip-flopped about his guilt and, while in prison, insisted he is innocent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2025
But, thanks to the pandemic, demand for aircraft seats has flip-flopped dramatically of late.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2024
But just a few weeks ago he flip-flopped, telling New York’s City & State that he was working on a documentary and a reality TV show, and therefore uninterested in engaging in a “messy primary.”
From Slate ● Mar. 13, 2024
The governor has flip-flopped on one highly inconsequential matter: how to pronounce his name.
From New York Times ● May 24, 2023
His belly flip-flopped like he was on a roller coaster.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Much like constantly changing an opening pair does little for the team's output of runs, flip-flopping on rules around behaviour does not create a winning environment.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
You write about companies flip-flopping on DEI and also the lack of women advancing in Wall Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 21, 2026
"We lost a lot of public trust because of some of the flip-flopping advice."
From Salon ● Dec. 29, 2024
Jessica Hoff Berzac, president of UPholdings, which developed the project in partnership with Self-Help Enterprises, said she has been frustrated by the flip-flopping by officials, who initially supported the plans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2024
Brother Alf watched the little figure flip-flopping off.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
