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 crane was first used to lower the flip-flop from its position.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2024
“Lace, wake up,” I said, touching her flip-flop with my shoe.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
Throughout the 13-track record, she flip-flops between being vulnerable and playful while also being hedonistic and making sacrifices.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
A band of protestors in flip-flops thrash on aluminum pans, registering their anger with the blackouts, moving quickly to avoid the police.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
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
Wakeley describes flip-flops as one of the few definite "no" items in most offices.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
She was wearing shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt and these cute little flip-flops.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
Was he trying to target Irish-American independent or swing voters in the US, of which there are many who have flip-flopped between the Republican and Democratic party in recent years?
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
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
They also flip-flopped on paying reparations to victims, at first insisting they would only pay if ordered to by court rulings.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 1, 2023
His instructions from supervisors, according to what he told police, flip-flopped from taking a hands-off approach to physically stopping thieves from leaving with goods.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2023
My stomach flip-flopped and my mouth went dry as flannel.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
His flip-flopping between military employment and diplomatic interruptions caused our superior military advantage to wither.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
And hey — I can even forgive HBO Max for all the name flip-flopping if they’ll let me watch “Parts Unknown” without ads.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2025
As chaotic as that flip-flopping sounds, De Oliveira says she’s since found “more maturity, calm and peace.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2024
But while political flip-flopping hasn’t helped German companies, many look to China as the key strain, especially on Germany’s carmakers, which have been hit by two problems.
From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2024
Then I hold Boo’s hand and we follow Lou Ann’s flip-flopping shoes up the stairs, closing the gate behind us.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
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.
