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

Articles of impeachment have been introduced by opposition parties against President Yoon Seok Yeol barely 48 hours after his martial law flip-flop and subsequent reversal of martial law. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024

Bündchen contrasted her off-white tunic with a black bikini, a pair of olive green flip-flops, and a pair of oversized cat-eye sunglasses. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2024

Campbell remembers a freezing child who showed up for a shopping trip wearing basketball shorts, an undersized T-shirt and disposable flip-flops. —Jessica Boehm, Axios, 3 Dec. 2024

Tomatoes festered on every street corner and stuck to the soles of my flip-flops. —Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1