adj
flippant
FLIHP-uhnt
Flippant (adj) means showing a casual disrespect or lack of seriousness about something that deserves more care. Example: “His flippant remark about the accident upset everyone in the room.”
adj
1
Showing a casual disrespect or lack of seriousness about something that deserves more care.
"In the mid-1950s we both wrote for the same weekly, where her contributions were a good deal more serious and less flippant than mine."
— Anthony Howard, Jason Cowley (2000)
"The conversations had grown more adult over the years—she was less flippant, at least."
— Sylvia Brownrigg, The Metaphysical Touch (1998)
"His flippant remark about the accident upset everyone in the room."
"Our society treats smoking flippantly as a slightly distasteful habit that can injure your health. It is not. It is drug addiction."
— Allen Carr, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking (2004)
How to use flippant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTreating a serious matter too lightly or carelessly, often in a way that seems disrespectful.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "flip" (the verb) — flippant is only an adjective describing attitude, not a physical motion.
Common pairings
flippant remark
flippant attitude
flippant response
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more flippant
- Superlative
- most flippant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His _____ remark about the accident upset everyone in the room.
Etymology
From a Northern English dialect word meaning "prattling, glib," related to the older sense of "flip" meaning to babble.
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “flippant” mean?
The word “flippant” means showing a casual disrespect or lack of seriousness about something that deserves more care. In plain terms, treating a serious matter too lightly or carelessly, often in a way that seems disrespectful.
How do you pronounce “flippant”?
“Flippant” is pronounced FLIHP-uhnt (/ˈflɪp.ənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “flippant” in a sentence?
Here is “flippant” used in a sentence: “His flippant remark about the accident upset everyone in the room.”
What is the opposite of “flippant”?
The opposite of “flippant” — its antonyms — is serious.
What part of speech is “flippant”?
“Flippant” is an adjective.
