flatfoot
Flatfoot (noun) means a condition in which the arch of the foot is low or absent, so the sole lies flat against the ground. Example: “The doctor said his flatfoot could be helped with the right insoles.”
How to use flatfoot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the medical condition of having flat arches, or old slang for a beat cop.
The "police officer" sense is informal and old-fashioned, mostly seen in vintage crime fiction.
Word forms
- Plural
- flatfoots, flatfeet
- Third person singular
- flatfoots
- Past tense
- flatfooted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The doctor said his _____ could be helped with the right insoles.
Etymology
From "flat" + "foot," describing a foot without the usual arch.