flip-flop

/ˈflɪpˌflɒp/

//ˈflɪpˌflɒp// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"flip-flop" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“flip-flop” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A sandal consisting of a rubber sole fastened to the foot by a rubber thong fitting between the toes and around the sides of the foot.

Key facts for flip-flop
PropertyValue
Headwordflip-flop
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈflɪpˌflɒp/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “flip-flop” sits in English frequency

flip-flop falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

flip-flop is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈflɪpˌflɒp/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 8 senses are on record.

flip-flop doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Onomatopoeic. Most probably an imitation of the sound produced when walking in them. The correct English form is flip-flop, spelled F-L-I-P---F-L-O-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    A sandal consisting of a rubber sole fastened to the foot by a rubber thong fitting between the toes and around the sides of the foot.
  2. 2
    A change of places; an inversion or swap.
  3. 3
    A change of places; an inversion or swap.
  4. 4
    A bistable; an electronic switching circuit that has either two stable states (switching between them in response to a trigger) or a stable and an unstable state (switching from one to the other and back again in response to a trigger), and which is thereby capable of serving as one bit of memory.
  5. 5
    The sound of a regular footfall.
  6. 6
    A somersault.
  7. 7
    A return trip.
  8. 8
    A person or inhabitant of the Middle East, or a Muslim nation, particularly Afghanistan.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic. Most probably an imitation of the sound produced when walking in them.

Synonyms

go-aheadjandalthongpluggerslopchanclazoribeach sandalslipper

This word in other languages

biestable(Español)bascule(Français)Flipflop(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "flip-flop"?
"flip-flop" is spelled F-L-I-P---F-L-O-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈflɪpˌflɒp/.
What does "flip-flop" mean?
As a noun, "flip-flop" means: A sandal consisting of a rubber sole fastened to the foot by a rubber thong fitting between the toes and around the sides of the foot.
How do you pronounce "flip-flop"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "flip-flop" is /ˈflɪpˌflɒp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "flip-flop"?
Onomatopoeic. Most probably an imitation of the sound produced when walking in them. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “flip-flop”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is F-L-I-P---F-L-O-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈflɪpˌflɒp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list