floppy disk

Or flop·py·disk

[flop-ee disk]

noun

Computers.

1. a portable storage medium consisting of a square plastic case containing a thin disk coated with magnetic material that is inserted into a drive to read and write data: popular from the 1970s through the 1990s.

floppy disk

noun

1. Also called: diskette.  flexible disk. a flexible removable magnetic disk that stores information and can be used to store data for use in a microprocessor

floppy disk

1. A flexible plastic disk coated with magnetic material and covered by a protective jacket, used for storing data. Floppy disks were once the principal storage medium for personal computers, but inexpensive hard disks and writable compact disks have greatly diminished their role.

Word History and Origins

Origin of floppy disk¹

First recorded in 1970–75; called floppy from the fact that the earliest (8 inch) disk housing was somewhat flexible, though later (3.5 inch) disks had a rigid plastic case

Related Words

• disk 
• diskette 
• floppy