flops

American  

[flops] / flɒps /

noun

Computers.

1. a measure of computer speed, equal to the number of floating-point operations the computer can perform per second (used especially in combination withmega-, giga-, tera- ).

---

flops British  

acronym

1. floating-point operations per second: used as a measure of computer processing power (in combination with a prefix)

   megaflops

   gigaflops

---

Etymology

Origin of flops

First recorded in 1985–90; shortening of fl(oating-point) op(erations per) s(econd)

Example Sentences

If it’s a mixture of high returns and big flops, he’s cherry-picking stocks without due care.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

It was one of several box-office flops last fall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

It has had some truly standout successes - and some notable flops.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Decade by decade, age by age, the world flip flops between the two.

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

I try to think of where I can get Egyptian music, or even what it’s called, when suddenly Solomon flops past in his sandals.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini