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 September 3, 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.

Corpus desk

Index EN-flip-flop · flip-flop · English

flip-flop · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "F" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

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

Long-tail rank of “flip-flop” in English

flip-flopranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

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.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how flip-flop appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. the necessity for yet another place at which to buy a polo shirt or a pair of flip-flops may not be apparent to the town's residents
  2. On the break for strong left, everything remains the same, except for the flip-flop of positions.

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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list