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.
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
Regardless of political perspective, one has to acknowledge she is remarkably unflappable.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
There were tears of disbelief and unbridled joy as the unflappable Jose Canale smashed home Paraguay's penalty to complete one of the greatest World Cup upsets in recent memory.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
People who have worked with him described him as an unflappable, straight-shooter whose personality makes him an ideal foil for Dario Amodei, Anthropic’s idiosyncratic CEO.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
The corps, led by the suave, unflappable Captain James T. Kirk, included natives of an advanced United Earth, its history of poverty and war now in the past.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
