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definitions

flippant

[flip-uhnt]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flippant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

frivolously disrespectful, shallow, or lacking in seriousness; characterized by levity: The audience was shocked by his flippant remarks about patriotism.
Chiefly Dialect. nimble, limber, or pliant.
Archaic. glib; voluble.

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RELATED WORDS

glib, disrespectful, rude, offhand, playful, cocky, cheeky, brassy, breezy, flighty, flip, fresh, frivolous, impertinent, impudent, insolent, nervy, pert, sassy, smart

Origin of flippant

1595–1605; apparently flip1 + -ant
Related formsflip·pan·cy, flip·pant·ness, nounflip·pant·ly, adverbun·flip·pant, adjectiveun·flip·pant·ly, adverb

Synonyms for flippant

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flippant ON THESAURUS.COM
1. saucy, impertinent, impudent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for flippant

Contemporary Examples of flippant

Historical Examples of flippant

  • She turned away instantly, with a flippant lift and drop of both hands.

    Alice Adams

    Booth Tarkington

  • It was a flippant, vulgar book, the outcome of a flippant, vulgar mind.

    Changing Winds

    St. John G. Ervine

  • The captain was, in his opinion, altogether too flippant and jolly.

    Cap'n Warren's Wards

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • "Then leave it to Him," was the flippant answer; and Joseph drained his glass.

    The Tavern Knight

    Rafael Sabatini

  • Every one laughed at his jokes, but to me they seemed superficial and flippant.

    Melomaniacs

    James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for flippant

flippant

adjective

marked by inappropriate levity; frivolous or offhand
impertinent; saucy
obsolete talkative or nimble
Derived Formsflippancy, nounflippantly, adverb

Word Origin for flippant

C17: perhaps from flip
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for flippant
adj.

c.1600, "talkative;" 1670s, "displaying unbecoming levity," apparently an extended form of flip (v.). Shortened form flip is attested from 1847. Related: Flippantly.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper