unflappable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unflappable
Explanation
To be unflappable is to be calm and relaxed, even in a stressful situation. A confident person is usually unflappable. Some people get nervous and jittery under pressure, while others are unflappable. If you're unflappable, you stay calm, relaxed, and poised no matter what's happening. A good kindergarten teacher stays unflappable in the midst of chaos, and a successful businessperson is unflappable when faced with deadlines and unexpected problems. The earliest use of this word was in 1953, in reference to the British prime minister. At its root is flap, 20th-century British slang meaning "disturbance or tumult."
Vocabulary lists containing unflappable
The Book Thief
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Mellow Out: Synonyms for "Calm"
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"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Six
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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.
The unflappable Lincoln might have been a little nonplussed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
The former Christie’s auctioneer, author, podcaster and motivational speaker is normally unflappable on the podium.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026
Instead, it was the 49ers who kept their cool, with the unflappable quarterback Brock Purdy leading two fourth-quarter touchdown drives that sealed victory.
From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026
Jacob Bethell justified his selection with an unflappable knock in the second innings, while only Brook could have made the audacious 41 when England found themselves 8-3 in the first innings.
From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025
The mother was regal and unflappable; her chicks were much too busy falling over and getting up again even to notice me.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
