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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Mellow Out: Synonyms for "Calm"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Six
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Smart, funny, incisive, generous and, perhaps above all, unflappable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
He added: "Karoline has been the best teammate. She is fiercely loyal, unflappable, and a great person who serves the President with honor."
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
He shared how he thinks about making bold bets, how artificial intelligence will reshape the economy for the next generation of entrepreneurs and even how he stays unflappable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Still, he says he was happy to detonate his cool, unflappable persona in the latest comedy from “Wet Hot American Summer” and “Role Models” filmmaker David Wain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
My mother maintained the sort of parental mind-set that I now recognize as brilliant and nearly impossible to emulate—a kind of unflappable Zen neutrality.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
