flip-flop

noun

ˈflip-ˌfläp 

1

: the sound or motion of something flapping loosely

2

a

: a backward handspring

b

: a sudden reversal (as of policy or strategy)

3

: a usually electronic device or a circuit (as in a computer) capable of assuming either of two stable states

4

: a rubber sandal loosely fastened to the foot by a thong

flip-flop intransitive verb

Synonyms

• about-face
• about-turn [British]
• reversal
• turnabout
• turnaround
• U-turn
• volte-face

Examples of flip-flop in a Sentence

the governor's frequent flip-flops would indicate that she has no core beliefs

Recent Examples on the Web

Martinez might’ve wanted to distract from his flip-flop, or to court his party’s religious right base. —Allison Mashell Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024

Permanent daylight saving time has failed before The U.S. has had a flip-flopping relationship with seasonal time changes. —Addy Bink, The Hill, 3 Nov. 2024

Kris Holt Wondering what a strip on a flip-flop is? —Kris Holt, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Even though voter preferences are flip-flopped, what tribal members identified as key issues were mostly the same: the cost of living and the economy, water rights and tribal sovereignty. —Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1